A Republican congresswoman argued Tuesday that the decision to remove an independent congressional ethics watchdog is a victory for transparency and accountability.
Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., said on CNN that lawmakers have a right to know who is accusing them of ethics violations. Under the rules package adopted by the House Republican conference Monday, the plan to put the Office of Congressional Ethics under the oversight of the House Ethics Committee would mean it will no longer accept anonymous tips on corruption.
Blackburn said lawmakers need to have more due process when accused of corruption.
“My hope is what you will see is more transparency, you will see more individuals with the opportunity to know who is accusing them and we will see more matters resolved in a timely manner,” Blackburn said.
Blackburn said the office will still exist at the Office of Complaint Review and people will be able to file complaints against lawmakers. However, they will need to have documentation and evidence and be ready to go public with that accusation, she said.
It’s a move that members of both parties support, according to Blackburn. But Democrats have been slamming Republicans for their decision since it was announced Monday.
The controversial move would essentially put Congress in charge of policing its own ethics and would gut the independent watchdog. Among the other provisions in the rules package is that the Office of Complaint Review would not be able to hire anyone to communicate with the public like a spokesperson or alert law enforcement to potential criminal violations by a lawmaker.
Republicans have said outside groups on the left have been able to weaponize the OCE, and said putting the office back under control of lawmakers is an improvement.
“Any time you can provide more transparency and more accountability to any process that’s in place then you’re going to take another step toward draining the swamp,” Blackburn said.
She also defended Republicans against the charge that the decision is shady because Republicans made the decision behind closed doors the night before the 115th Congress is sworn in.
Blackburn said it was all a part of regular order; the conferences from both parties meet behind closed doors on the Monday before legislative sessions and determine the rules for the incoming Congress. Those rules are then voted on in the House the next day.
“It’s a matter of timing and it’s the manner in which the House approaches its business,” she said. “You put your rules and your process in place and then you move forward with organizing and convening the 115th Congress.”
