CREW sent an ethics complaint against Rep. Vito Fossella (R-NY) to the House Ethics Committee, asking for an investigation into whether he violated any House rules. Today, the Ethics Committee voted to establish an investigative subcommittee to conduct an investigation on the DWI charge, but immediately recommended that the subcommittee defer action on its investigation until Fossella’s criminal proceedings are concluded.

Upon hearing this news, Melanie Sloan, executive director of CREW, said:

The Ethics Committee deferred an investigation of Vito Fossella? We are shocked, shocked, shocked. The only thing more shocking would be if the committee decided to investigate anything…ever.