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Boehner Hit With Ethics Complaint For Pursuing Defense Of DOMA

Watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) filed a complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics today against Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) for allegedly violating federal law and House rules when he hired outside counsel to defend cases involving the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). CREW alleges that Boehner violated the Antideficiency Act by hiring conservative super lawyer Paul Clement to defend DOMA, despite the fact that Congress has appropriated no money for this purpose. Clement is charging the American taxpayer $520/hr for his services. “In an era of fiscal austerity,” CREW said it is “surprised that Boehner would be willing to spend money he doesn’t have.” Boehner has yet to respond.

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