*please check the RNC quote at the bottom*
Various file photos of House members under investigation by federal authorities. Top row, from left are, Rep. Gary Miller, R-Calif.; Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Pa.; Rep. Rick Renzi, R-Ariz.; and Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Calif. Bottom row, from left are, Rep. John Doolittle, R-Calif.; Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Calif.; Rep. William Jefferson, D-La.; and Rep. Alan Mollohan, D-W.Va. (AP Photo/File)
GOP fear fallout from new ethics probes
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070531/ap_on_go_co/gop_ethics_5WASHINGTON - A half dozen federal investigations into the activities of Republican lawmakers are raising new worries for GOP leaders who hope to regain the House majority they lost last fall.
In recent weeks, two veteran Republicans surrendered prominent committee seats after FBI agents raided the offices of family businesses. Others have long-running investigations hanging over them. Some conservative activists are criticizing the party's handling of the matters.
Democrats say at least six GOP House members are under some degree of Justice Department scrutiny, although Republicans question whether all the inquiries are active.
In pure numbers, Republicans are approaching the magnitude of their problem at this stage of the 2006 election cycle. Eventually, nine House Republicans faced FBI investigations. Four stepped down, and two — Reps. Randy "Duke" Cunningham of California and Bob Ney of Ohio — are in prison. Of the five who sought re-election, three lost and the other two remain under ethical clouds.
Jessica Boulanger, spokeswoman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said Democratic attacks on the ethics front will have little effect. Democrats, she said, "are proving incapable of governing, so it's no wonder they're dusting off their '06 playbook in an effort to hide their failed leadership."