John Ensign

Why Can't Congress Police Itself? Ensign Case is Exhibit A

Susan Crabtree | February 3, 2011, 8:30AM

The Senate Ethics Committee's decision to appoint a special counsel to lead the investigation into activities surrounding Sen. John Ensign's (R-NV) affair with a political staffer is raising age-old questions about the panel's relevancy.

Members of Congress are the first to admit that they hate serving on the Ethics Committee, and policing their peers puts them in an unusually awkward position. If that's the case and the panel has to farm out its work to true professional investigators, then why have lawmakers investigating their colleagues misbehavior in the first place?

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Mark Souder

Quayle Picks Up Whistleblowing Former Souder Staffer

Jillian Rayfield | December 28, 2010, 10:09AM

Rep.-Elect Ben Quayle (R-AZ)

Rep.-Elect Ben Quayle (R-AZ) has brought on Renee Hudson, the former chief of staff of adulterous former Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN), to be his new chief of staff. Hudson reportedly brought news of Souder's dalliance to GOP leadership after confronting her boss.

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