Quote:
Originally Posted by Derwood
as I said in the Pelosi thread, these ethics investigations should be conducted by an independent commission. the idea that one's peers are going to fairly rule in these hearings is laughable, as partisanship and back scratching will get everyone off with a slap on the wrist.
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An independent commission could perhaps conduct investigations....much like the quasi-independent Office of Congressional Ethics has done since its inception.
But the Constitution leaves the punishment of members to each respective House of Congress....and it also requires a 2/3 vote for expulsion because the framers recognized that it should very difficult to overturn the will of the voters.
Article I, Section 5: Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behavior, and, with the Concurrence of two-thirds, expel a Member.
The creation of the OCE has been the strongest ethics investigation tool to date...and its a shame that it is likely to be gutted by Boehner.