REP. DARRELL ISSA (R-SAN DIEGO) EARNS DISHONORABLE MENTION IN CREW'S ANNUAL MOST CORRUPT REPORT

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September 13, 2012 (Washington, D.C.) — Today, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) named Rep. Darrell Issa (R-San Diego) as a Dishonorable Mention in its Most Corrupt Members of Congress report, an annual, bipartisan look at Washington’s worst. According to CREW, Rep. Issa illegally disclosed information from a sealed wiretap, then hid behind his constitutional protections as a member of Congress to avoid the consequences, earning him a spot in CREW’s latest report.

Click here to read Rep. Issa's profile.

“Rep. Issa not only pursued a politically motivated witch hunt against Attorney General Eric Holder, he broke the law while doing it,” said CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan. “Nothing better illustrates the American people’s disgust with Congress than a member like Rep. Issa who claims to defend the law, but then places himself above it to suit his political agenda.”

In June 2012, while the House debated whether to hold the attorney general in contempt of Congress over the botched Fast and Furious operation, Rep. Issa inserted material from a sealed wiretap application in the Congressional Record. Under federal law, wiretap applications cannot be disclosed without the permission of a judge, and those who violate the law can be held in contempt. Rep. Issa, however, knew that by inserting the information in the Congressional Record, he would be immune from prosecution under the Constitution’s Speech or Debate clause, which protects members of Congress for remarks and actions that fall within the legislative sphere.

“It’s unthinkable that Rep. Issa would abuse a constitutional protection afforded to members of Congress to shield his own clearly illegal conduct,” continued Ms. Sloan. “The Department of Justice and the House Ethics Committee should make clear they won’t stand for attempts to do an end-run around the law by conducting thorough investigations. Rep. Issa’s actions are all the more egregious given that he has urged more aggressive prosecution of those who leak confidential government information.”

This is the eighth edition of CREW’s Most Corrupt report, an annual look at unethical conduct by members of Congress. This year’s list includes seven Democrats and 13 Republicans; nine are repeat offenders. Since 2005, CREW has named 81 members of Congress to the list, 32 of whom are no longer in office. Rep. Issa is one of three members from California included in this year’s report.

Click here to read this release on CREW’s website.

Click here to view the report.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) is a non-profit legal watchdog group dedicated to holding public officials accountable for their actions. For more information, please visit www.citizensforethics.org or contact David Merchant at 202.408.5565 or dmerchant@citizensforethics.org


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Comments

All about attack the messenger

Issa went after the people who are responsible for the cold blooded killing of Border Patrol agent Brian Terry. We still do not know how far the corruption goes up the chain of command. It is obvious to anyone with eyes that Eric Holder had intimate knowledge of the plan to send firearms to the Mexican drug cartels in an effort to push more gun control. Unfortunately for they ended up being responsible for the mass killings of thousands of Mexican citizens, and U.S.. Border Patrol agents. The scapegoat now seems to be Issa and some low level ATF people. This won't go to far though as email etc. will be uncovered. This attack on Issa is more like a mafia hit team intimidating a witness to a murder. How shameful this paid attack group is. Bet they are funded by the Sinaloa drug cartel and george soros. You know you just have to trace the money trail to who is funding "citizens for responsibility and ethics in Washington".

 

Just did the check on them and low and behold!!!!!

Wikipedia shows them as a front group for no other than.... a drum roll please..... GEORGE SOROS!!!!!!

I knew it. Might as well have had Ahmadinejad or Al Qaeda doing the report. I call this one BUSTED

Watchdog

No, my Congressman is a watchdog. ( You do not even need to go to the "CREW" website to figure out they are a front for the new Socialist Progressive movement of the Democratic Party.) CREW does not understand the separation of powers afforded by our constitution. It's the duty of Congress to watch the Executive Branch. My Congressman would be in more trouble with us if he did not. As to illegal actions. Read from the article ".. Rep. Issa, however, knew that by inserting the information in the Congressional Record, he would be immune from prosecution under the Constitution’s Speech or Debate clause, which protects members of Congress for remarks and actions that fall within the legislative sphere..." That's the way it works CREW. I know you would rather have a government run by Executive Orders of your great, Progressive, leader but that's just not the way it is. From those according to their ability to those according to their needs. NOT!

I don't follow your logic.

Sure Issa has a duty to provide oversight. But not to engage in illegal wiretaps, if that's accurate.  CREW has listed many Democrats on its list over the years, which doesn't sound partisan.  Where's your evidence of that?

Dear miriamg

If you want logic see Dans Sept 14 post. Sorros, who could have known? By the way, it's the 80th anniversity of Kool-Aid.