Ethics probes may raise election issues

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- A House ethics investigation of Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., likely will extend into 2010, insiders say, creating an election headache for House Democrats.

The committee's 14-month investigation into the Ways and Means Committee chairman's finances could continue into February or March as the House gears up for off-year elections, Politico reported.

Rangel isn't the only Democrat facing an ethics inquiry as the election season looms. Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi has had to defend himself against allegations he used his Homeland Security Committee chairmanship to raise campaign contributions, the Washington publication said.

The Justice Department is in the midst of a criminal investigation into Democratic lawmakers' dealings with the defunct PMA Group, once a lobbying firm known for securing for its clients multimillion-dollar earmarks from the Appropriations Committee.

The ethics questions give Republican strategists optimism that they can paint a picture of a majority party overcome by its power, Politico said.

"Thanks to (House Speaker) Nancy Pelosi's lapses in judgment, the rap sheet on the Democratic-led Congress is getting longer by the day," said Ken Spain, communications director for the National Republican Congressional Committee. "When the speaker promised to 'drain the swamp,' she probably didn't think she'd be fighting off hypocrisy charges four years later heading into the 2010 elections."

Democrats, however, said party leaders are working to ensure bad behavior is investigated promptly and punished. They also point out that the GOP doesn't have the corner on morality -- noting several Republicans are under fire for sexual liaisons and also are caught in the PMA investigation.