As Congress weighs a major lobbying and ethics reform bill, Republicans are grappling with how to deal with a corruption scandal that appears to involve two of the three members of Alaska’s GOP congressional delegation.
The FBI and IRS raided the home of Sen. Ted Stevens in Alaska on Monday. Investigators are trying to determine whether Stevens, along with Rep. Don Young, the state’s sole congressman, took bribes from a company whose two top executives have admitted bribing Alaska state lawmakers, according to news reports.
Stevens declined to discuss the investigation with reporters on Tuesday. He released a statement on Monday acknowledging the search of his home.
“I continue to believe this investigation should proceed to its conclusion without any appearance that I have attempted to influence its outcome,” he said. “I will continue my policy of not commenting on this investigation until it has concluded.”
House and Senate Republicans were reluctant to condemn either Young or Stevens.
“I’ll certainly be discussing the matter with my conference,” said Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who pointed out that Stevens is the Senate’s longest-serving Republican.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., indicated he would not push for Stevens to give up his seats on any of the four committees he serves on, including the powerful Senate Appropriations panel.
“My personal feeling is we have to be very careful about punishing people in an ongoing investigation,” Reid said. “Many investigations go nowhere.”
Congress is expected to pass a wide-reaching lobbying and ethics overhaul bill that was crafted in the wake of several embarrassing scandals involving mostly Republican lawmakers.
Still reeling from scandals that cost them the majority last year, House Republicans leaders have been much less forgiving of members involved in scandals.
House Majority Leader John A. Boehner, R-Ohio, forced two Republican lawmakers who are subjects of separate investigations to give up their committee assignments.
Young could be next.
“There are some questions that have been raised” about a member, Boehner said, alluding to Young. “We are going to continue to hold our members to the highest ethical standard.”
