http://public.cq.com/docs/cqt/news110-000002493698.htmlRenzi's Business, Doolittle's House Searched; GOP Responds Quickly
By Susan Ferrechio, CQ Staff
With the sting of the November election losses not far behind them, House Republicans say they are demonstrating a new level of intolerance toward potential legal wrongdoing.
The Republicans moved quickly to evict John T. Doolittle of California, a former member of the House leadership, from the Appropriations Committee on Thursday, less than 24 hours after revelations that the FBI had recently raided his home.
Meanwhile, Rep. Rick Renzi, R-Ariz., said in a written statement that he was stepping down from the Intelligence Committee after agents raided a family business in Arizona.
“Today, the FBI came to my family’s business to obtain documents related to their investigation,” Renzi said. He added, “I view these actions as the first step in bringing out the truth. Until this matter is resolved, I will take a leave of absence from the House Intelligence Committee. I intend to fully cooperate with this investigation.”
Doolittle, who was GOP conference secretary in the 109th Congress, voluntarily surrendered his seat on the coveted Appropriations panel. But GOP aides said Republican leaders made clear that if Doolittle failed to quit on his own, they would move to throw him off.
“It’s about time,” said Brendan Daly, spokesman for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who made “Republican culture of corruption” a 2006 campaign refrain.
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