Dec 8, 2006 -- Foley Scandal Ethics Committee Report: Statement of Meredith McGehee, Policy Director, Campaign Legal Center

The credibility of the current congressional ethics process is so abysmally low that there will forever be lingering public doubts about this report and the investigation of the congressional disgrace that was the Foley scandal. Perhaps the findings and recommendations of the report would be identical if they came from a professional, nonpartisan investigation, but the fact remains that the public has lost faith in Congress's ability to police its own Members. It is hard to imagine a more compelling argument for the creation of an Office of Public Integrity, than the specter of public skepticism that hangs over this report and every action (and inaction) taken by the congressional ethics committees in both Houses.

We strongly urge Congress to quickly create such an Office and hope that no Member will make the mistake of underestimating public outrage and doubt about the culture of corruption in Washington or the mistake of thinking that this crisis has passed and that they have dodged another bullet.

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