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Six quit Maxine Waters ethics probe

Six members of the U.S. House panel investigating the ethics case against Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., quit Friday to avoid "an appearance of unfairness." 2006 file photo. (UPI Photo/Jim Ruymen)
Six members of the U.S. House panel investigating the ethics case against Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., quit Friday to avoid "an appearance of unfairness." 2006 file photo. (UPI Photo/Jim Ruymen) | License Photo

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- Six members of the U.S. House panel investigating the ethics case against Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., quit Friday to avoid "an appearance of unfairness."

All five of the panel's Republicans and one Democrat recused themselves. Committee Chairman Jo Bonner, R-Ala., said the move was made "out of an abundance of caution and to avoid even an appearance of unfairness."

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Attorney Billy Martin, who was hired to investigate whether the ethics panel's staff was guilty of misconduct, recommended the recusals, a letter read on the House floor by Bonner said.

Waters, 73, had no immediate comment, the Los Angeles Times reported.

In addition to Bonner, Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., and Republican Reps. Michael McCaul of Texas, Michael Conaway of Texas, Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania and Gregg Harper of Mississippi stepped aside.

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, then appointed Reps. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., as acting chairman, John Yarmuth of Kentucky as the ranking Democrat and Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, Steven LaTourette, R-Ohio, Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., Tim Griffin, R-Ark., and John Sarbanes, D-Md., to round out the panel, The Hill reported.

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