- Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL)
- Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL)
- Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA)
- Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA)
- Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)
- Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL)
- Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA)
- Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
- Rep. Alan B. Mollohan (D-WV)
- Rep. John P. Murtha (D-PA)
- Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-NY)
- Rep. Laura Richardson (D-CA)
- Rep. Pete Visclosky (D-IN)
- Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA)
- Rep. Don Young (R-AK)
The 15 most corrupt members of Congress
Dishonorable mentions
Look Who Voted to Punish Rep. Charlie Rangel
By Mary Ann Akers, washingtonpost.com
September 19, 2008
Five Republicans sided with Democrats Thursday in defeating a GOP attempt to strip ethically embattled Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) of his chairmanship of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. But none of them are among the Republicans who themselves are facing ethics investigations and charges.
The motion, brought by House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) was handily defeated, 226-176. Backing their leader in trying to punish Rangel were the following embattled GOP lawmakers: Don Young of Alaska, Tom Feeney of Florida and four California members who are under ethics clouds - Ken Calvert, John Doolittle, Jerry Lewis and Gary Miller.
All six Republicans made this year's "most corrupt members of Congress" list published by the ethics watchdog group CREW, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. You can read about each member's specific ethics woes by clicking on the link to the list.
Also notable for his vote today, Rep. Bill Jefferson (D-La.), who was indicted in June on 16 counts of bribery and other corruption charges (and forced to give up his committee assignments), sided with the majority and voted to protect Rangel from punishment. And yes, the Democratic congressman is also a member of the most corrupt club.
Rangel is under intense scrutiny for a series of alleged ethics lapses, including failure to disclose income on real estate property and raising money for an educational center bearing his name.
Rep. Alan Mollohan of West Virginia, a Democratic who is under federal investigation for alleged earmarking improprieties, also voted with his colleagues to help Rangel retain his chairmanship and avoid an ethics investigation.
Among those who simply didn't vote were troubled Reps. Vito Fossella (R-N.Y.), whose drunken driving arrest last Spring revealed he had a secret mistress and child, and Rick Renzi (R-Ariz.), who was indicted on 35 counts of public corruption charges in February.