D.C. Attorney General Irvin B. Nathan took unprecedented action last week, establishing a “special expert committee” to offer an opinion about recusal issues surrounding Elizabeth Noel’s nomination to the Public Service Commission. But four months ago, he covered this same terrain. That has many folks asking why the need for the panel, which includes Patricia Worthy, Agnes A. Yates and Thomas D. Morgan.

“The time for executive vetting of nominations is before the nominations are sent to the council,” agreed Ward 4 Councilwoman Muriel Bowser. “The [Public Services and Consumer Affairs Committee] is the appropriate venue to consider any questions at this point.”