A Democratic congressman speculated Tuesday that House Republicans moved to gut an independent congressional ethics watchdog because they are preparing an unethical agenda.
Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., said on CNN that he didn’t know what other reason Republicans could have for moving the Office of Congressional Ethics, an independent watchdog, under the auspices of the House Ethics Committee. The rule, approved by the House GOP conference Monday, has been criticized as a renege on President-elect Trump’s promise to “drain the swamp.”
“What they have in their agenda might run into trouble with ethics,” Moulton said. “I don’t know what else could be the reason.”
House Democrats originally established the office in 2009 in order to field complaints about corruption to be independently investigated. It was instituted in the wake of a number of corruption scandals because lawmakers thought it would be rare for lawmakers to tattle on their colleagues.
However, House Republicans said the office became a dumping ground for partisan complaints, mostly about GOP members from left-leaning people and groups. The OCE was never in charge of doling out punishment for lawmakers, but the office could refer investigations to the House Ethics Committee, and it was also able to disclose its activities to the public.
Moulton said the decision by the House GOP on Monday, which is expected to be voted on in the House Tuesday and passed, is “absolutely ridiculous.”
“Is there any American out there who thinks that Congress is too ethical?” Moulton said. “Donald Trump and Republicans said they were going to drain the swamp and the very first thing they do is dismantle our outside ethics watchdog.”
