John Joseph Moakley: “Mr. Speaker, it is deeply disturbing that this Congress would choose to leave town with a dark ethical cloud hanging…”

“Mr. Speaker, it is deeply disturbing that this Congress would choose to leave town with a dark ethical cloud hanging over the U.S. House of Representatives. That cloud, the ethical charges against the Speaker, grows bigger and darker almost every day. The New York Times today says on its editorial page that we should not adjourn--that the House should not adjourn and simply pass this mess along to a new Congress and a new Ethics Committee. As the New York Times says, "Had the Republicans been less eager to protect the Speaker, the whole case might have been resolved by now." Clearly this investigation has dragged on for far too long. Let us not contribute to the delay any longer.”