GOP loses bid for ethics probe of Dem leaders
By LARRY MARGASAK and ANDREW MIGA (AP) – 1 hour ago
WASHINGTON — House Democrats on Thursday stopped a Republican bid to force an investigation of Democratic leaders aimed at determining whether they covered up sexual harassment allegations against ex-Rep. Eric Massa.
Even in failure, Republicans planted questions about when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi learned about allegations from Massa's employees that he sexually harassed male staff members. The freshman New York Democrat resigned Monday amid a slew of conflicting statements in which he confirmed and denied that he groped staff members and argued that none of the contact was sexual.
By trying to make Democratic leaders rather than Massa the investigative subjects, Republicans attempted to turn the tables on the party that used ethical misconduct to win control of the House in 2006.
Republicans were hurt in that campaign by revelations that GOP leaders took no action after learning that then-Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla., sent sexually suggestive messages to former male pages.
In a resolution demanding an investigation with a June 30 deadline, House Republican leader John Boehner pointed to a meeting last October between Massa's top aide and a Pelosi staff member.
Pelosi said in a March 4 news conference, after news stories appeared about Massa's conduct, that she only learned of the harassment allegations the previous day.
"I asked my staff, I said, 'Have there been any rumors about any of this before?' There had been a rumor, but just that, no formal notification to our office," she said.
Pelosi said her staff did not report the rumor to her, "because, you know what? This is rumor city. Every single day there are rumors. I have a job to do and not to be the receiver of rumors."
On Thursday, Pelosi was asked on MSNBC when her office first learned of possible harassment of Massa's employees.
"Well, any report to our office was in February that there was an allegation against him and at the same time that it was referred to the ethics committee and that was the appropriate route," she said.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iPBO-MFuuZkZ3cgddVQWHIWwKKvQD9ECNUA03
Stop any and all investigations, that's the way to do it democrats.
By LARRY MARGASAK and ANDREW MIGA (AP) – 1 hour ago
WASHINGTON — House Democrats on Thursday stopped a Republican bid to force an investigation of Democratic leaders aimed at determining whether they covered up sexual harassment allegations against ex-Rep. Eric Massa.
Even in failure, Republicans planted questions about when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi learned about allegations from Massa's employees that he sexually harassed male staff members. The freshman New York Democrat resigned Monday amid a slew of conflicting statements in which he confirmed and denied that he groped staff members and argued that none of the contact was sexual.
By trying to make Democratic leaders rather than Massa the investigative subjects, Republicans attempted to turn the tables on the party that used ethical misconduct to win control of the House in 2006.
Republicans were hurt in that campaign by revelations that GOP leaders took no action after learning that then-Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla., sent sexually suggestive messages to former male pages.
In a resolution demanding an investigation with a June 30 deadline, House Republican leader John Boehner pointed to a meeting last October between Massa's top aide and a Pelosi staff member.
Pelosi said in a March 4 news conference, after news stories appeared about Massa's conduct, that she only learned of the harassment allegations the previous day.
"I asked my staff, I said, 'Have there been any rumors about any of this before?' There had been a rumor, but just that, no formal notification to our office," she said.
Pelosi said her staff did not report the rumor to her, "because, you know what? This is rumor city. Every single day there are rumors. I have a job to do and not to be the receiver of rumors."
On Thursday, Pelosi was asked on MSNBC when her office first learned of possible harassment of Massa's employees.
"Well, any report to our office was in February that there was an allegation against him and at the same time that it was referred to the ethics committee and that was the appropriate route," she said.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iPBO-MFuuZkZ3cgddVQWHIWwKKvQD9ECNUA03
Stop any and all investigations, that's the way to do it democrats.