By Gerald Shields, The Advocate, July 30, 2007

30 Jul 2007 // A Washington citizens group has filed a formal ethics complaint against Vitter.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a Democratic Party-leaning group, wants the Senate Select Committee on Ethics to look into Vitter’s recent acknowledgement that his telephone number was on the list of records released by a woman dubbed the “D.C. Madam.”

The woman, Deborah Jeane Palfrey, has denied federal charges that she ran a prostitution ring. Palfrey contends that she operated a legitimate escort service. In acknowledging the matter, Vitter said he had committed a “serious sin” in his past.

The Senate ethics committee could sanction Vitter with punishment ranging from censuring to expulsion.

“The Senate Ethics Committee should commence an investigation into Sen. Vitter’s conduct and hold him accountable,” Melanie Sloan, executive director of the group, said in a statement.

A spokesman for Vitter declined to comment on the complaint.

U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., has also declined to comment on whether the committee would look into the matter.

Sloan has acknowledged that committee will likely not take up the matter, since the incident occurred from 1999 to 2001, when Vitter was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.