US Rep Alan Mollohan (D-WV) Scandal Discussion on CSPAN-1 Now

[Lasher]

Here's the link to CSPAN:

http://www.c-span.org/watch/index.asp?Cat=TV&Code=CS2&ShowVidDays=30&ShowVidDesc=&ArchiveDays=30

Here's a news article on the subject:

Mollohan Stands Behind His Financial Disclosures

By JOSELYN KING

WHEELING — U.S. Rep. Alan Mollohan, D-W.Va, on Wednesday said he "stands behind" his financial disclosure reports that show dramatic increases in his assets since 2000.

He added that accusations by the National Legal and Policy Center that he made more than 200 errors on his reports and under-reported values of his real estate holdings are “politically motivated,” and that the organization has not released to him the list of alleged miscues it has compiled.

Mollohan said he is nevertheless being asked to defend his reports.

"It smacks of McCarthyism," he said. "It’s the same misplacement of facts in order to achieve a political end. There is innuendo, suggestion and the selective release of information."

http://www.theintelligencer.net/News/articles.asp?articleID=4758

[billybob537]

1. Rovian attack

always attack. It doesn't matter what the facts are always attack.
This is just another diversion from the LYING SCUM MURDERING of OUR TROOPS FOR OIL ADMIN.

[plusfiftyfive]

4. Did you read

Did anyone bother the read the NY Times Editorial on the Ethics Committee and this guy Mollohan?

Seems like the Bush Admin is fostering this sort of stuff, and even a Dem is cashing in!

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/12/opinion/12wed2.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

"Inert and feckless, the House ethics committee stands as a laughable oxymoron. It is a still life in partisan gridlock even as the issue of Congressional corruption captures voters' attention. Now its ranking Democrat, Alan Mollohan of West Virginia, has emerged as the latest example of the sort of shady dealings that have sent Congress plummeting in the public's estimation. News articles have disclosed that Mr. Mollohan, while unstinting in criticizing Republicans for the abuses of the Jack Abramoff scandal, has made a lucrative art form of the notorious budget "earmarks" by which lawmakers customize pork projects for favored constituents back home.

Mr. Mollohan has channeled $250 million in taxpayer money to five nonprofit organizations, all designed by him in the name of local economic development. The congressman created what looks like a patronage machine that rewards him with campaign contributions from grateful nonprofit executives who often owe their jobs to him — one of them at a $500,000 salary paid by federal earmark.

Republican partisans, looking to counter their own ethical problems, question how in the course of just four years Mr. Mollohan managed to become a millionaire while in Congress. The lawmaker denies any corner cutting, citing legitimate investments in a soaring real estate market. But clearly Mr. Mollohan deserves immediate scrutiny — if only Congress were up to that task."

[Lasher]

5. Welcome to DU, plusfiftyfive!

If we decide earmarks are unethical and/or illegal, there's going to be a lot of people in Congress who are implicated. Likewise, if we decide it's illegal to accept campaign contributions from those who have benefited from these earmarks we're going to have to build a new jail or two to hold all those Representatives and Senators.

Except for the attack by the Republican Noise Machine, Mollohan has two issues he needs to address:

1. Did he properly disclose his net worth? If not, why? He needs to fully disclose everything right now, and answer every detail that has come into question.

2. Did he improperly enter into business relationships with those who were beneficiaries of his earmarks?

One thing about this discussion that bothers me is, the repeated reference to him as the ranking member of the House Ethics Committee, which is often followed by lamentation about its partisan gridlock. This implies that Mollohan is somehow at least partially accountable for it. Not true!

After the House Ethics Committee last admonished The Hamper on three counts in October 2004, the House Republicans replaced two of their representatives on the committee with party loyalists who had contributed to DeLay's legal defense fund. Most importantly, they changed the committee's rules in order to protect DeLay from further reprisals.

Much to his credit, Mollohan has stood up to DeLay and his cronies, and has refused to go along with Republican efforts to turn the committee into a rubber stamp for themselves. It should come as no surprise that Republicans would vindictively attack him in this manner.

[queenbdem87]

2. Omg

There is this liberal guy from West Virginia talking about how Bush-like the Democratic infrastructure is in W.Va.

[Lasher]

3. I'm pretty sure that was a Republican

Surely that was a puke who called in on the line for Democrats and lied about his party affiliation.