From the Associate Press: Ethics Board administrator and general counsel Richard Sherburne says the Ethics Board is not equipped to prosecute ethics charges under the new ”clear and convincing” standard.
From the Houton Chronicle and the Washington Post: In the same week that Sen. David Vitter dodges an ethics complaint over his penchant for prostitutes and another GOP Congressman gets caught in an extra marital affair, a majority of House Republicans vote against a resolution in support of the celebration of Mother’s Day.
From the Associated Press: With calls now for the resignation of New York Rep. Vito Fossella over reports that he fathered a child through an extra marital affair, Senator David Vitter’s name is once again finding it’s way into the disgrace pages of Washington politics.
From the Times Picayune: In dropping it’s investigation into Senator David Vitter’s soliciation of a prostitute the 6 person Senate panel called Vitter’s actions reprehensible and leaves open the door for further actions.
Meanwhile, WTOP in Washington reports on one of Deborah Jean Palfrey’s final acts prior to committing suicide last week.
From the Advocate: Former Republican and Baton Rouge Metro Councilman Darrell Glasper supervised calls urging black voters to stay away from the polls during last Saturday’s district six congressional election.
Under both federal and Louisiana state law, prosecutors are given wide ranging immunity for their actions. Louisiana in particular has been a domicile for some of the most troubling examples of blatant prosecutor misconduct. Up until now, there was little recourse for an aggrieved defendant. But all that might change in the coming weeks as the US Supreme Court considers the ramifications of a prosecutor who goes too far. Read more
