Yes, this is a different call for Stevens to give up committee seats from the call of the watchdog Taxpayers for Common Sense I just posted a few minutes ago.http://www.citizensforethics.org/node/29819CREW: Senator Stevens must give up seat on committee responsible for budget of the FBI, which is investigating himSubmitted by crew on 31 July 2007 - 10:53am. Ted Stevens
Following the joint FBI/IRS raid on the home of Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK), CREW called for Stevens to step down from his seat on the powerful Appropriations subcommittee that funds the Department of Justice. The full news release can be found here:
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) believes it is imperative that no member under federal investigation be involved in the oversight or appropriations of any agency involved in investigating that member. Sen. Stevens should immediately step down from his position on the Appropriations subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies.
Melanie Sloan, executive director of CREW, said today, "Senators should follow the lead of their House colleagues and require anyone whose property has been searched in connection with a criminal probe to relinquish his plum committee post. Senator Stevens, who sits on the subcommittee responsible for funding the Justice Department, which is conducting a probe into his potentially criminal activities, should immediately resign his position on the Appropriations committee."
As Melanie noted, CREW made the same demand of several members of the House Appropriations Committee who were facing DOJ investigations including Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA) who has stayed on the House Appropriations Committee and Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA) who did leave that Committee following an FBI raid on his home.