What will they not do now?
Back when Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX) was facing multiple probes from the House Ethics committee, the GOP purged the committee and packed the majority seats with loyalists — even ousted the chair, Rep. Joel Hefley (R-CO), in favor of a loyalist leader, Rep. Richard Hastings (R-WA).
Four of the five GOP members had taken donations from DeLay’s ARMPAC — reluctantly, we’re sure — and two of the five had shown great generosity by contributing to DeLay’s legal defense fund.
Unsurprisingly, the panel meditated quietly on non-being while the biggest ethics scandals in memory have stormed across Capitol Hill. In recent days, plea agreements from a key former DeLay staffer have brought the mess directly to DeLay’s office door. The committee, meanwhile, has focused on detaching itself from the trappings of worldy existence. Or at least from investigating.
But if DeLay keeps his promise to exit Congress in a timely manner, the complaints against him will be rendered moot. Their docket will be lightened considerably. What then?
