WASHINGTON - The House ethics committee approved nearly four dozen subpoenas Thursday as its investigation of a page sex scandal sprang to life with a promise by its leaders to go "wherever the evidence leads us."
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The ethics committee promised to finish its investigation in weeks, not months, but it was unclear whether that would occur before the Nov. 7 election. Hastert's handling of the issue has brought harsh criticism from some fellow Republicans and conservative activists.
An AP-Ipsos poll found that about half of likely voters say recent disclosures of corruption and scandal in Congress will be "very" or "extremely" important when they cast their votes. That group is much more likely to vote Democratic.
Hastert got a boost Thursday evening from President Bush, who called and expressed his support.
Comment: Ah, yes... for doing a "heckuvajob, Denny". Sheesh."The president thanked him for going out and making a clear public statement that said the House leadership takes responsibility and is accountable," White House deputy press secretary Dana Perino said. "He said he appreciated that when they got the information, they swiftly took action making clear that Rep. Foley should step down and promptly requested a
Department of Justice investigation. And he expressed his support for the speaker."
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Hastert spokesman Ron Bonjean said the speaker had not yet received a subpoena from the ethics committee but was willing to testify. "If the ethics committee asks him to, of course," Bonjean told The Associated Press.
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According to public statements and an internal review by Hastert's office, a likely list of those who had some involvement in events and could be summoned include: Hastert aides Tim Kennedy, Mike Stokke, Ted Van Der Meid and Scott Palmer; former Clerk of the House Jeff Trandahl; Rep. Rodney Alexander (news, bio, voting record), R-La., who became aware that Foley sent questionable e-mails to a page he sponsored; Rep. Tom Reynolds, R-N.Y., who spoke with Alexander about Foley; Majority Leader John Boehner; and Rep. John Shimkus (news, bio, voting record), R-Ill., chairman of the board that oversees the page program.
Hastings and Berman, in an unusual procedural move, said they will personally lead the investigation, joined by Reps. Judy Biggert, R-Ill., whose district adjoins Hastert's, and Stephanie Tubbs Jones, D-Ohio. Their investigative subcommittee thus has two Republicans and two Democrats.
More:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061006/ap_on_go_co/congress_pages;
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