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PRESS

November 12, 2009

CREW Receives Senate Ethics Committee Response to Sen Landrieu Complaint – Nearly Two Years Later

Senate Ethics, Ethics, Senate Ethics Committee, Federal Agencies, Department of Justice, States, Louisiana, Press Releases, Senate Members, Mary Landrieu

Washington, D.C. – Today, nearly two years after filing complaints with the Senate ethics committee and the Department of Justice (DOJ) against Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) finally received a response from the Senate ethics committee claiming “the matter to be resolved” and that “no further action” will be taken.

On January 8, 2008, CREW asked for an investigation into whether Sen. Landrieu violated federal bribery law by including a $2 million earmark for Voyager Expanded Learning in a bill four days after receiving $30,000 in campaign contributions from company executives and their relatives. In addition to the Senate ethics committee and the DOJ, CREW also asked the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District for Louisiana and the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas to investigate the matter.

Sen. Landrieu issued a response to CREW’s complaint the same day.

Melanie Sloan, CREW’s executive director, said today, “What a relief to know the Senate ethics committee did not completely forget about CREW’s complaint – filed nearly two years ago – against Sen. Landrieu for accepting campaign donations from someone for whom she earmarked funds. No grass growing under the committee’s feet. We are shocked, shocked to see Sen. Landrieu absolved of wrongdoing.”

Click here to read the Senate ethics committee’s response.

Click here to learn more about CREW’s January 8, 2008 complaint.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) is a non-profit legal watchdog group dedicated to holding public officials accountable for their actions. For more information, please visit www.citizensforethics.org or contact Garrett Russo at 202.408.5565 or grusso@citizensforethics.org