David Wu

Steny Hoyer: Rep. Wu's Resignation 'Not Appropriate At This Time'

Melissa Jeltsen | March 1, 2011, 2:12PM

Rep. David Wu (D-OR)

Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) weighed in on the calls for Oregon Rep. David Wu's resignation today, saying they were "premature."

"I understand that he has said he is seeking mental health services and that's the appropriate step for him to take. If he had a broken arm, he'd get it fixed," he said. "I believe that mental illness and physical illness both are treatable, and we ought to treat them both as illnesses."

He added that while he has not spoken to Wu or his staff about the matter, he "would personally believe talks of resignation are not appropriate at this time."

Wu is facing growing pressure to resign after detailed reports emerged of the seven-term congressman's erratic behavior around last November's midterm elections. His bizarre conduct -- including emailing a photograph of himself dressed in a tiger suit to employees -- led staffers to stage multiple interventions and request he check into a psychiatric hospital.

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voter fraud

Hoyer: Republicans Depressing Turnout In Democratic Areas

Ryan J. Reilly | November 2, 2010, 11:21AM

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD)

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said in a last-minute fundraising e-mail for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee that Democrats have "already had disturbing reports about the Republicans trying to depress voter turnout in Democratic areas."

The DCCC will "have eyes and ears already on the ground, looking out for anything suspicious," Hoyer said in the e-mail. "They also have legal teams ready to be dispatched at a moment's notice any place where a recount is likely so we can decisively challenge all irregularities," he added.

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Ethics

Dems Nervous Over Reports Rangel Aiming For Ethics Settlement (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | July 27, 2010, 12:20PM

Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD)

Democrats are increasingly nervous that Rep. Charlie Rangel's ethics investigation will bleed over into the November elections as Rangel negotiates behind the scenes for a last-minute settlement.

The Associated Press is reporting that Rangel (D-NY) former chairman of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, is trying to settle his case in advance of Thursday's open hearing. That would mean he would have to agree he committed some ethical misconduct, the AP reported with citations to "people familiar with the situation."

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Ethics

New House Ethics Paradigm: Leadership Must Rat Out Members

Justin Elliott | May 19, 2010, 7:28PM

Former Rep. Mark Foley, Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN), and former Rep. Eric Massa

After learning that Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN) had an affair with a staffer, two House Republican leaders felt compelled to inform the ethics committee of the matter. Why?

Taking that step appears to be part of a new M.O. when leadership hears about an allegation of misconduct: tell the ethics committee quickly to inoculate yourself and your party against accusations of inaction later on.

"That's the new standard: the leadership ratting out its members where there's an allegation of misconduct," Stan Brand, a former House general counsel, tells TPMmuckraker.

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Eric Massa

Massa Probe Focusing On Dems' Responses

Zachary Roth | April 22, 2010, 1:28PM

Former Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY)

The House Ethics committee's probe into the Eric Massa affair appears to be focused on whether other members or Hill staffers acted appropriately after receiving complaints about Massa's behavior.

After Majority Leader Steny Hoyer's office was made aware of the allegations against Massa in February, Massa aides were given 48 hours to notify the ethics committee. Hoyer met yesterday with investigators for the panel and released a statement noting that he has "moved to strengthen protections for staff in the wake of this incident."

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Health Care Reform

MAP: A Guide To Recent Vandal Attacks On Democrats (UPDATED)

Justin Elliott | March 24, 2010, 5:19PM

Smashed windows. Threats of violence. A slashed gas line. Reports of vandalism and threats against Democrats have been stacking up over the past few days.

Majority Leader Steny Hoyer today estimated that 10 members had been threatened over the health care vote.

So just how bad is it out there?

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Eric Massa

Hoyer Vs. Massa: All A Misunderstanding?

Justin Elliott | March 9, 2010, 6:00PM

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and former Rep. Eric Massa

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told reporters earlier today that he never talked to former Rep. Eric Massa about any ethics allegation, after Massa accused Hoyer of lying about the matter.

"My staff talked to his staff," Hoyer said today.

But it appears that the back-and-forth between the two arose after Massa read an Associated Press article that incorrectly reported Hoyer's original statement on the issue.

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Eric Massa

Hoyer Dismisses Massa Accusation As 'Completely False'

Justin Elliott | March 8, 2010, 12:41PM

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY)

A spokeswoman for Majority Leader Steny Hoyer is dismissing charges by Rep. Eric Massa that Hoyer lied about how an allegation of harassment was brought to the House ethics panel.

On his radio show yesterday, Massa claimed that "Steny Hoyer has never said a single word to me at all, not ever, not once. Not a word. This is a lie. It's a blatant false statement."

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Health Care

Massa Blames Vast Democratic Conspiracy For Forcing Him Out (AUDIO)

Justin Elliott | March 8, 2010, 10:02AM

Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY)

One of the motifs in the long radio monologue Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY) delivered on Sunday is that Democratic leaders conspired to force Massa -- a no vote on health care -- out of Congress.

As TPMDC explains, Massa, who announced last week he will resign today, was a no vote on health care. His departure will mean the threshold for passing the bill would drop by one vote, to 216.

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Charles Rangel

Escalating Campaign Against Rangel, GOP Demands He Give Up Chairmanship

Justin Elliott | October 7, 2009, 12:59PM

Rep. John Carter (R-TX) and Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY)

House Republicans plan to introduce a resolution today calling on Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY), who has been dogged by charges of financial misconduct and influence peddling, to resign from his powerful post at the head of the Ways and Means Committee.

Rep. John Carter (R-TX), who is leading the charge against Rangel and wrote the resolution -- which House Dems are vowing to block -- said in a statement:

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