Will Ethics Probe Take Down any Lawmakers?
It was an embarrassing breach from one of the most secretive committees on Capitol Hill: A House ethics staffer posted a confidential report where the public could access it, reports CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson.
"I regret to report that there was a cyber-hacking incident of a confidential document of the committee," said Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., the chair of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.
Revealed in the document: names of more than two dozen lawmakers who at the time of the report in July were under some sort of ethics review.
That includes two Congressmen who've been the subject of CBS News investigations: Charles Rangel, who is being looked at for a half dozen alleged lapses including tax problems, and John Murtha.
Murtha is among seven lawmakers under review for allegedly trading earmarks for campaign contributions.
The confidential document has been removed from public view, but the Washington Post obtained a copy.
Post: Dozens Under House Ethics Investigations
Post: 7 Reps. On Same Panel Under Scrutiny
"Many of the cases if you will are sort of known or the broad outlines are known, but the specific status with the ethics committee is brand new," said the Post's Carol Leonnig.
Other names on the list: Jane Harman who allegedly tried to trade favors to get a leadership position in the House; Alan Mollohan for allegedly using his office for personal profit; Maxine Waters whose husband owns stock in a bank she allegedly helped to get bailout funds; and Laura Richardson who may have filed improper financial disclosures.
Murtha, Visclosky, Young and Moran had no comment. The others have denied wrongdoing.
Democrats say the lengthy list shows they're serious about "draining the swamp" in Washington. But ethics watchdog Melanie Sloan says don't get too excited.
"While we may have learned that a lot of members are under investigation, what usually happens is nothing," Sloan said.
Ethics officials did point out that all of the named members could eventually be cleared of wrongdoing. No such delayed judgment for the unnamed ethics staffer who posted the document: she's been fired.
