George Miller: “at the end of last week, the makeup of the Ethics Committee was announced by the Speaker and by the minority leader. We…”

“at the end of last week, the makeup of the Ethics Committee was announced by the Speaker and by the minority leader. We know as Members of this House that that is among the most difficult task Members can be called upon to perform, and, that is, to sit in those rare occasions when they must in judgment of their colleagues in this House for actions or allegations of behavior. The difficulty of that task was recognized by Speaker Gingrich back in 1988 when the conduct and questions of the former Speaker was called into question, and he said that the Speaker of the House, a position which is in third line for succession to the presidency and the second most powerfully elected position in America, this investigation has to meet a higher standard of public accountability and integrity. I think he is probably correct. It certainly must meet the same standards as for Members of the House, but clearly sitting in judgment of the Speaker is a far more difficult task than sitting in judgment upon regular Members of the House because of his position of power and prestige and his integral being to the workings of this House and to the success of Members of his own party and of the House generally. It is for that reason that while we applaud finally that there is an Ethics Committee in place, that we must raise the issue of the appointment of an outside counsel.”