Three key House Democrats have challenged a recent Committee on Standards of Official Conduct finding that disciplinary action could be launched against a House member or staffer who attacked “the integrity of this Committee or its members.”
In a letter to the committee yesterday, Reps. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), David Obey (D-Wis.) and John Dingell (D-Mich.) said members of the House “have not only the right — but also an obligation — to speak out when they question the actions of the House or its committees.”
The lawmakers’ letter came in response to a letter the committee sent to Rep. Chris Bell (D-Texas) last month chiding him for the way he brought a successful ethics complaint against House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas).
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