Harold Volkmer: “today marks the 113th day since the formation of the House Ethics Committee, and no substantial action has yet been…”

“today marks the 113th day since the formation of the House Ethics Committee, and no substantial action has yet been taken with regard to our imperial Speaker's serious ethics problems. Four very serious complaints have been filed and have been pending before the Ethics Committee now for months, yet no action. It is obvious that an independent counsel is needed. I advise the Ethics Committee to follow the advice that Congressman Gingrich gave on July 28, 1988, when he said, The rules normally applied by the Ethics Committee to an investigation of a typical Member are insufficient in an investigation of the Speaker of the House . . . clearly this investigation has to meet a higher standard of public accountability. I call on Chairperson Johnson and members of the Ethics Committee to quit dragging their feet and name an independent counsel. Inactivity by the Ethics Committee and press releases from the Gingrich legal team will not clear up this most serious situation. An independent counsel will.”