Rep. William Jefferson on his way to expulsion

In the House yesterday, Tuesday, June 5th:

Washington Post: House Moves Against Embattled Jefferson

Monday's indictment of Rep. William J. Jefferson (D-La.) touched off an ethics battle in the House yesterday, with leaders from both parties moving quickly against Jefferson even as they accused each other of having no real interest in tighter ethics rules.

In short order, the House last night approved a Democratic motion that would make an ethics investigation automatic upon the indictment of any House member and then approved a Republican motion that could lead to Jefferson's expulsion.

The GOP resolution, offered by Minority Leader John A. Boehner (Ohio), referred Jefferson's case to the ethics committee, demanding that the panel report back on whether his expulsion is merited. The Democratic rule change, introduced by Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (Md.), would give the ethics committee 30 days after an indictment to initiate an investigation or explain why it declined to do so.

H.Res. 451 [Hoyer]: Directing the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct to respond to the indictment of, or the filing of charges of criminal conduct in a court of the United States or any State against, any Member of the House of Representatives by empaneling an investigative subcommittee to review the allegations not later than 30 days after the date the Member is indicted or the charges are filed.

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree
Passed 387-10


H.Res. 452 [Boehner]: Raising a question of the Privileges of the House.

On Agreeing to the Resolution
Passed 373-26

Boehner Statement


Recent ethics violations vote on Rep. Jack Murtha: 219-189