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Group wants Vitter investigated
Published Tuesday, September 29, 2009
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A Washington-based public watchdog group said Tuesday it has asked a Louisiana state agency that reviews lawyer conduct to investigate allegations that U.S. Sen. David Vitter solicited prostitutes.
The bar complaint by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington arises from the Republican’s admission of a ‘‘serious sin’’ in 2007 after his phone number appeared in records of a Washington prostitution ring.
CREW spokeswoman Naomi Seligman said the complaint letter was faxed to the Baton Rouge-based Office of Disciplinary Counsel. A spokesman for the agency said he couldn’t comment.
Vitter, an attorney, has refused to discuss details or answer questions about the matter. He has denied subsequent allegations of involvement with prostitutes in New Orleans.
A Vitter spokesman accused CREW of trying to shift attention away from Democratic ties to the community organizing group ACORN, and did not address the group’s allegations of misconduct by Vitter.
CREW, a nonprofit group with a history of complaints against both parties, notes in its news release that Vitter is among a host of Republicans calling for criminal investigations of ACORN and an end to government funding for its programs. Republican criticisms of the group were energized after employees at some ACORN offices were recorded recently apparently giving advice to a woman posing as a prostitute and to a man posing as her pimp about cheating on taxes and operating a brothel.
‘‘Vitter Seeks Investigation of ACORN for Assisting Fake Prostitution Ring; CREW Seeks Investigation of Vitter for Role in Real Prostitution Ring,’’ reads the headline on the CREW news release.
Other Louisiana officials CREW has targeted include former Rep. William Jefferson, a New Orleans Democrat who was recently convicted on federal corruption charges, and Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., who the organization criticized for a $2 million education earmark she authored in 2001 that benefited a Texas company whose executives and associates gave her $30,000 in campaign contributions. Both have been named in past editions of the organization’s ‘‘Most Corrupt Members of Congress’’ list.
The group’s most recent list currently includes seven Republicans and eight Democrats.
In an e-mailed statement to The Associated Press, Vitter spokesman Joel DiGrado accused the group of trying to ‘‘shift the light’’ from the Democratic Party’s long ties to ACORN, and noting that CREW is ‘‘run by a former Democratic Senate staffer,’’ a reference to CREW director Melanie Sloan’s prior work as counsel in Congress for lawmakers including Vice President Joe Biden when he was in the Senate.
Seligman countered with a statement that Vitter is using ‘‘feigned outrage’’ over ACORN’s admitted misdeeds to shift attention from the prostitution scandal.
Charles Plattsmier, an attorney for the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, said Supreme Court rules prohibit confirming or denying that a complaint has been filed. A complaint becomes public only if a hearing committee determines that there is probable cause to believe misconduct has taken place, he said.
CREW’s letter notes that solicitation for prostitution is illegal in Louisiana and the District of Columbia. It cites the state court system’s Rules of Professional Conduct, which state that committing a crime constitutes misconduct. Complaints, if found valid, can lead to penalties ranging from private reprimands to disbarment by the state Supreme Court.
‘‘We are reminded again that Sen. Vitter broke the law and is out of step with Louisiana values.’’ said Bradley Beychok, a spokesman for Rep. Charlie Melancon, a Democrat who has announced he will run for Vitter’s seat next year. ‘‘He shouldn’t be treated any different than an ordinary citizen.’’
Comments
Posted by Crakalakin (anonymous) on September 30, 2009 at 8:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What!?!? A left-wing, Soros funded outfit wants a Republican investigated? Shocker!
"Seligman countered with a statement that Vitter is using ‘‘feigned outrage’’ over ACORN’s admitted misdeeds to shift attention from the prostitution scandal."
Or just maybe he is doing his part to bring down this criminal organization based in his state that is closely linked to President Obama. Can't have that, can we?
Posted by time4change (anonymous) on September 30, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Or maybe when Senator Vitter pointed his finger, he failed to notice the three pointing back at himself. Wow! It's a colorful life, aint it? Wrong is wrong, no matter what side you're on! There's your shocker.
Posted by 2008 (anonymous) on September 30, 2009 at 12:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Prostitution should be legal. Take the control out of the hands of pimps, supply healthcare and check ups to the women and make them pay taxes. However, since it isn't legal and Vitter runs on the family values platform he should be penalized for his misconduct, period.
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on October 1, 2009 at 12:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The org called CREW is a Liberal, Socialist Owhampy group kin to the "Nut" group ACORN, that just can't stand any conservative, whether DemocRAT or Republican! They just "hate" Vitter! Also, this situation is being fueled by Congressman Charlie Melancon of the 3rd District of Louisiana who is running against Vitter and Melancon will lose his District later on this year or next due to reapportionment.
Posted by fsranger (anonymous) on October 1, 2009 at 7:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Vitter has my wife and my as well as many of our friends/neighbors votes. His personal life may not be what we would like, but his position on most (99.9%) of what is coming out of D.C. is right on with us. Wish we could say the same for Louisiana's other "senator"; however, we can't. We don't see where Vitter has cheated on his taxes or gotten caught with shady/special interest deals like some of the other weasels in D.C. (Wrangle, Dodd, Franks, etc). We just hope there are enough in D.C. that have or can find the backbone to stand up to all this goofy liberalism until 2010 elections, and then, hopefully enough responsible and informed voters will get off the couch and undo much (to ask for all is a bit much) of what was done in the 2008 election. Now, before folks get their hackles up - it makes NO difference if these weasels are Repubs/Dems/short/fat/tall/white/black/yellow/green - if they are out of touch with the folks back home, they need to go.
Posted by time4change (anonymous) on October 1, 2009 at 11:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Perhaps there should be a slot on the ballet which reads none of the above, and then, there would have to be a do over with new candidates.
Posted by jammin1 (anonymous) on October 1, 2009 at 2:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
He should be penalized for his misconduct, period.
I imagine his wife has taken care of that, because he is sure walking the straight and narrow now!
Posted by crackbaby (anonymous) on October 1, 2009 at 5:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Easy problem to solve, kick Vitter out of office, and shut down Acorn. End of story, lol
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on October 4, 2009 at 10:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
this idea that because a politician runs on family values he/she should be punished more so than a politician that does not run on family values is not logical to me
there should be no double standard concerning political affiliation
just because Vitter's phone number is on a list is hardly evidence of wrong doing, maybe he dialed a wrong # ( haha, I don't know) but this is just CREW/ACORN trying more strong arm tactics to make their wrong doing look less somehow.....
it's not illegal to call a number, but it would be illegal to solicit .....
I don't want my tax-dollars going to ACORN or CREW....and if Vitter is caught visiting prostitutes he should be prosecuted same as anyone else ....
Posted by 2008 (anonymous) on October 4, 2009 at 1:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's not like Vitter didn't have connections to the Canal Street Brothel well before his situation with the DC Madam. He lied to his wife and he lied to himself and he lied to his constituents. I don't care what his personal preferences are just don't run on family values! ACORN has nothing to do with Vitter or his mistakes, he just needs to own up.
Posted by bobbye (anonymous) on October 9, 2009 at 7:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I saw vitter and his wife both speak about this on t. v.
2yrs ago.it is done. There is no use to still print
this crap.Acorn is a vast left wing liberal radical group.
Posted by Yeahuhuh (anonymous) on October 15, 2009 at 10:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What we find again and again is that Republicans are more hypocritical than Democrats. That is obviously true even if someone hates both Democrats and Republicans.
This comes from the lengths they will go to to pretend they are on a high moral road and their opponents are not. Slurring your opponents is so much a part of being Republican that you practically can't be a Republican without that instinct.
Notice how Vitter's spokesman counter-accused someone of trying to get out from under the ACORN scandal as his major defense?
I think prostitution should be legal and anyone who gets into untrue moral tirading for political purposes should be drummed out of office. But Vitter and the Republicans should not be the first recipients of such a change as they are the preeminent moral tiraders of the last century and are still inclined to do it.
When Republicans take a stand to make the little "sin" crimes legal and remove the cloak of condemnation, THEN maybe they should be immune to the criticisms. NOT before that.
Posted by 2008 (anonymous) on October 15, 2009 at 11:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well said Yeahuhuh
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on October 15, 2009 at 8:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
More Liberal Fiction! Liberals just can't understand Logic and the Truth! Just look at their idol Bill Clinton! And owhampy/ A Man without a Country!
Posted by Yeahuhuh (anonymous) on October 16, 2009 at 10:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Funny how so much of what you said rushing is just like what I was talking about.
For too many conservatives, the bone in their head that controls the ability to see themselves never grew big enough to work.
Posted by southernwoman (anonymous) on October 16, 2009 at 12:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I remember when Rush Limbaugh suggested that drug addicts be shot (that was before he admitted his own addiction).
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on October 17, 2009 at 12:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah/ You must be speaking of yourself-You are a piece of NOTHING! And everyone knows it! Just a piece of Liberal Trash!
Posted by DuncanPark (anonymous) on October 17, 2009 at 10:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Charge/try this vile goon. He admitted, on national television, that he broke the law.
Being elected shouldn't put an individual above the law...even the laws we don't like.
Posted by Yeahuhuh (anonymous) on October 17, 2009 at 11:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Awww rushing. You hurt my feelings. But oooops, you did make my point again.
If you saw your own shortfalls you could be a more compassionate person. Dialog with you would improve with everyone. Sure your friends might see it as a weakness that you understood your own shortfalls better, but what do they know?
Meanwhile the rest of us will notice when you can't do anything but insult and slur people to make a point.
What I said about conservatives is true -- too many conservatives have that problem. And I said it kindly. In fact that is what a lot of people think is wrong with conservatives -- they think everyone else is wrong but they have so much pride in themselves that they are blind oafs. I say it is just some conservatives that are like that.
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on October 18, 2009 at 1:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
As I have stated before, all the Liberals live in a Fictional and Socialistic World as everyone can see, because they can't see and understand True Logic and the Truth! The Liberals out there know who you are? They will only change when it is to late for them to recover!
Posted by bobbye (anonymous) on October 18, 2009 at 7:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Drop it put it behind you. This bickering is not going to prove any
thing. Its over.
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