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WASHINGTON — Stung by a series of inquiries, nearly half the members of the Congressional Black Caucus want to scale back the aggressive ethics procedures that Democrats trumpeted after gaining control of Congress.
Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, and 19 fellow black lawmakers in the all-Democratic caucus quietly introduced a resolution last week that would restrict the powers of the new independent Office of Congressional Ethics. The office, formed by Congress in 2008, is run by a panel of private citizens.
Since its inception, the ethics office has investigated at least eight black caucus members. Some lawmakers have complained that the increased transparency of the new office is unfair to lawmakers who are cleared of wrongdoing.
