11/19/04
House Gingrich foe hit with ethics complaint
Washington Rep. Jim McDermott, a Democrat hit with a hefty fine for his involvement in an illegal-wiretapping case involving former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, has now been slapped with an ethics complaint filed with the House Ethics Committee. Whispers has confirmed that Ohio Rep. David Hobson, a Republican, filed the complaint. GOP sources say it's a retaliatory move against the Democrats in general and McDermott specifically for the party's criticism of Republican efforts to shield House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, who's in the middle of his own legal troubles. House insiders say the ethics complaint should be a "slam dunk" and lead to censure or possibly expulsion.
McDermott in October was ordered to pay Republican Rep. John Boehner up to $600,000 for leaking to the New York Times a phone conversation between Boehner and other Republicans. The call, made in 1997 by Boehner on a cellphone outside a Florida Waffle House, was intercepted by a couple who provided McDermott with a tape. The call was made to discuss an Ethics Committee probe of Gingrich. Ever since a federal judge hit McDermott with the fine, Republicans have been outraged that the press hasn't made a big deal of the issue.
Insiders say Hobson moved now because the relevant statute of limitations runs out at the end of the year. But since McDermott is continuing in Congress, the case will follow him. "McDermott broke a serious federal law, as explained by the courts. This is very serious and cut and dried," said a GOP source.
McDermott issued the following statement to Whispers Friday afternoon: "The federal court case to which this complaint refers at such length is far from finished. It is now on appeal. We expect the result to be very different, as it has been before. The ethics complaint failed to mention that there are significant First Amendment issues involved; and failed to mention that the U.S. Department of Justice told the U.S. Supreme Court that there were First Amendment Rights at stake. Most importantly, Congressman Boehner's colleague failed to mention that the U.S. Supreme Court in the past has supported my position. These are all points we will ensure are shared with the House Ethics Committee."
Back to Washington Whispers
