Ethics Problems Haunt Dems’ Pick for House Intel Seat

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Here’s a curious strategy for you: While the GOP is battered by a massive ethics scandal in the House intelligence committee, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA) is planning to give that panel’s top Democratic post to a guy with a checkered ethics background.

That’s right: Pelosi wants to replace House Intel Committee Ranking Member Jane Harman (CA) with Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL), who “was forced to surrender his job as a federal judge after being indicted in 1981 on bribery charges,” as the LA Times reports it. He beat the rap, but “was impeached in 1988 by the House for conspiracy and making false statement” in connection to the case.

Why, it’s almost as bad as giving the Democrat’s top seat on the House ethics committee to a fellow who’s been funnelling half a billion dollars to his friends and pet charities.

(Hat tip to Steve Clemons, Laura Rozen)

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