Ethics Committee urged to take action - Congress

Common Cause Magazine, Spring, 1993 by Peter Montgomery

In three separate cases in December, Common Cause called for the congressional ethics committees to appoint outside counsel to investigate allegations against members of Congress.

On December 3, Common Cause urged the Senate Ethics Committee to retain an outside counsel to conduct its investigation of allegations of sexual harassment by Sen. Bob Packwood (R-Ore.).

On December 9, Common Cause urged the Senate Ethics Committee to conduct an investigation into questions raised in published reports regarding possible violations of Senate ethics rules and standards by Sen. Phil Gramm (R-Texas) in his dealings with savings and loan owner Jerry D. Stiles, and to report publicly its findings. CC called on the committee to retain an outside counsel, and it also urged Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell (D-Maine) and Minority Leader Robert Dole (R-Kan.) to conduct an independent inquiry into how the Gramm matter was originally handled by the Senate Ethics Committee in January 1990.

On December 21, Common Cause urged the House Ethics Committee to investigate questions raised by published reports regarding possible violations by Rep. Dan Rostenkowski (D-Ill.) of House ethics rule prohibiting the conversion of campaign funds to personal use. CC called on the commitee to retain on outside counsel to conduct the investigation.