WASHINGTON, April 21 (UPI) -- A West Virginia congressman under investigation for directing federal money to foundations temporarily gave up his place on the House ethics committee Friday.
Rep. Alan Mollohan, D-W.Va., gave in to pressure from Democratic leaders, the Washington Post reported.
"It has become clear that the unprecedented campaign that has been launched against me will continue to be at least as relentless as it has been to date," he said in a letter to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. "I do not want these baseless allegations to divert attention from the important work that the House Ethics Committee must undertake in the remainder of this Congress."
The Wall Street Journal first reported that Mollohan steered millions of dollars to a network of foundations in his district. While at least some of the organizations play a legitimate role in the impoverished area, the foundations employ a network of Mollohan's friends and allies, the Post reported.
