Lanny Breuer

DOJ: We're Not 'Gun-Shy' On Prosecuting Politicians, We Just Can't Prove Crimes

Ryan J. Reilly | December 21, 2010, 9:01AM

Sen. John Ensign (R-NV). Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA). Former Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX). Rep. Don Young (R-AK). Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-WV). What do all these politicians have in common? Despite being embroiled in scandal, all have announced in the past year that the Justice Department wouldn't be pursuing charges against them.

That has put DOJ in the crosshairs of good government groups, who say they've appeared weak by shutting down high-profile investigations of members of Congress.

"Exactly what will a politician have to do for the Department of Justice to sit up and take notice?" Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), said this month. "The department might as well disband the Public Integrity Section for all the good it does."

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Topics: Alan Mollohan, DOJ Public Integrity, Don Young, Jack Smith, Jerry Lewis, John Ensign, Justice Department, Lanny Breuer, Tom DeLay