http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=54366WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Following is a release from the Democratic National Committee:
This week, the Associated Press reported that new House Republican Leader, Rep. Roy Blunt, through his political action committee, "has paid roughly $88,000 in fees since 2003" to a consultant also under indictment with DeLay for laundering campaign cash. (AP, 9/29/05) Jim Ellis, who ran Americans for a Republican Majority (ARMPAC), DeLay's national fundraising organization, was indicted in Texas along with DeLay for allegedly funneling corporate campaign contributions into Texas state elections in 2002 in violation of Texas law. (Express- Times, 9/29/05)
Blunt's ethically questionable decision to hire the criminally indicted Ellis puts him in good company among the scandal-plagued GOP leadership in Washington, DC. The group includes Senate Republican Leader Bill Frist, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove, Vice President Cheney's Chief of Staff Lewis Libby, a GOP super-lobbyist and a handful of Bush benefactors, all of whom are facing federal criminal investigations.
"By picking DeLay's top deputy to replace him, the Republicans' culture of corruption remains firmly entrenched in Washington, DC," said Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean. "It's time for Republican leaders in Washington to end their ethically-challenged, business-as-usual approach to governing, their culture of corruption and cronyism are bad for America. We need a party and a President who will stand up for ethics in government. We need a fundamental change in Washington."
(A lot of research included.)