INDReporter

Bad company: Landrieu, Vitter hammered by CREW

by Walter Pierce

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a non-partisan good-government group, released Wednesday its annual list of what it deems the most corrupt members of Congress. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a non-partisan good-government group, released Wednesday its annual list of what it deems the most corrupt members of Congress. Louisiana Sens. Mary Landrieu and David Vitter make that list.

CREW cites Landrieu for inserting a $2 million earmark into a 2001 bill that benefited an educational program that, through its employees, had donated $30,000 in campaign contributions to Landrieu. The senator says the program was highly regarded and the donations did not lead to the earmark.

Vitter makes the list because his phone number was famously tied to a DC prostitution service, which nonetheless has so far not led to either a criminal investigation or a Senate ethics probe.

In introducing the list, CREW writes, "Corrupt lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are polluting the United States Capitol. These members highlight the need for increased oversight by the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE), including expanding its reach to the Senate."

See the full report here.