Mollohan calls corruption report ‘nonsense’
Jess ManciniPARKERSBURG - A West Virginia congressman Tuesday said a Washington public interest group's report saying he was one of the most corrupted members of Congress is "nonsense."
Fifteen lawmakers, including Rep. Alan Mollohan, D-W.Va., are on the fifth annual Most Corrupt Members of Congress report from the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics.
Mollohan was under investigation by the Department of Justice relative to his position on the House Appropriations Committee where he earmarked millions of dollars to organizations ran by officials who made political contributions to him worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, the organization said. He has been listed in the report in 2006, 2007 and 2008; however, the 1st District representative has never been charged.
"What nonsense," Mollohan said.
"This attack was launched four years ago to undermine my work on the ethics committee's investigation of then-Majority Leader Tom DeLay. It was and is factually baseless and has been rebutted many times," he said. "What is disappointing is that by uncritically recycling tired old stories, an organization claiming to speak for integrity and honesty in government has instead allowed itself to become complicit in this political hatchet job."
DeLay, known as "The Hammer," has since left Congress, but was recently announced as a contestant on the popular ABC TV show "Dancing with the Stars."
Mollohan has served in the House of Representatives for 14 terms.
Also on the list are Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla.; Sen. Roland Burris, D-Ill.; Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Calif.; Rep. Nathan Deal, R-Ga.; Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev.; Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill.; Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Calif.; Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.; Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa.; Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y.; Rep. Laura Richardson, D-Calif.; Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Ind.; Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif.; and Rep. Don Young, R-Ark.
Burris, Ensign, Deal, Jackson and Visclosky are new to the list.
Calvert, Lewis, Mollohan, Murtha, Visclosky and Young reportedly are under investigation by the Justice Department. Burris, Ensign, Rangel and Richardson are under investigation by the congressional ethics committee. Jackson is under investigation by both the Justice Department and the Office of Congressional Ethics and Buchanan is being investigated by the Federal Election Commission.
Waters, off the list for two years, returned for using her congressional position to help a bank in which she is financially tied, the organization said.
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whacky1
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09-17-09 11:22 AM
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I'm shocked! A politician who is seen as corrupt denies it! An independent group with NO political party bias (yes, we are out here) needs to be able to police Congress and boot out or prosecute corrupt members. It's obvious they can't police themselves without bias.
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mauser
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09-17-09 12:22 AM
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there isnt a politician in the whole state who isnt corrupt!
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eccentric506
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09-16-09 8:26 PM
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yeah Mollohan said there are others who are more corrupt--- you can polish a turd but no matter which end you pick up you are still dirty
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StarlandKid
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09-16-09 3:58 PM
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After his dad held the office for 16 years, Alan has been in office for 26 years. The Mollohan dynasty has to end. Not only has he been under suspicion, nor does he answer emails, he called security to get rid of citizens trying to deliver letters to his office about concerns over healthcare! This guy needs to GO!
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Kendall78
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09-16-09 3:57 PM
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Maybe this is why Mollohan isn't making the rounds to the ppl, like other reps do. And here I thought he just didn't want to face the health care issue..maybe there is more..alot more.
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averageguy
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09-16-09 12:57 PM
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Dear Rep. Mollohan: Why don't you have your attorney(s) sue these people? If the reports are wrong, spurious, libel a defamation of character or slanderous why do you not sue them to clear your name? The reason he doesn't is because in a lawsuit there would have to be evidentiary discovery - in other words all the skeletons have to come out of the closet. Frankly Alan Mollohan must have a ton of them. It's about time the people in his district from Wheeling to Parkersburg and elsewhere boot this guy out of office. Yes, he manages to bring home some funds every now and then. However he won't answer emails regarding health care. He won't answer emails at all. Sorry Alan but the gravey train ends next year buddy and you'll have to find a real job. Maybe Van Jones will hire you. How's that hope and change working for you Mollohan?
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TJF123
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09-16-09 12:26 PM
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"What nonsense," says Mollohan. I guess what he is saying is that there are others in Congress who are more corrupt, but are better at not getting caught.
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Mac5858
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09-16-09 8:53 AM
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How many times is this guy going to be pointed out before WV actually wakes up and does something about it?
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don26103
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09-16-09 6:25 AM
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All of these and rest of them needs to be voted out of office in 2010 or when their term is up. Also the senate needs voted out. Would be nice clean out all three houses in Washington.
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CrazyJohn
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09-16-09 2:00 AM
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They are all corrupt and living high on the hog in DC.
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