Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) is a Washington, DC-based advocacy organization which professes to fight corruption by U.S. government officials. One of their most visible projects is a biannual list of Washington politicians they label as the "most corrupt." Aerial photo (looking NW) of the Washington Monument and the White House in Washington, DC. Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia (also known as D.C.; Washington; the Nations Capital; the District; and, historically, the Federal City) is the capital city and administrative district of the United... ...

CREW publications

In January 2006, CREW published a report, "Beyond Delay: The Thirteen Most Corrupt Members of Congress," documenting the unethical activities of thirteen members of Congress, specifically ten House members and three senators. Although much of the information collected was already available from a variety of sources, CREW compiled the information into one reference document. The allegations against some of those on the list had been well publicized, while the activities of others had gone relatively unnoticed.

In September 2006, CREW issued a revised, 241-page report, "Beyond Delay: The 20 Most Corrupt Members of Congress (and Five to Watch)"[1] (see list below). The report added nine representatives (eight Republicans, one Democrat) to the "most corrupt" list, while removing two, Randy Cunningham and Bob Ney, who have pleaded guilty to felony charges against them. It also added five representatives (four Republicans, one Democrat) "to watch." Randall Duke Cunningham (born December 8, 1941), American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1991, representing the 50th District of California (map). ... Robert William Ney (born July 5, 1954) is an American politician and convicted white-collar criminal from the U.S. state of Ohio. ...

Background and criticism

CREW was founded in 2001 by Melanie Sloan, a former aide to Representative John Conyers and Senator Charles Schumer. She is now the organization's Executive Director. CREW also runs the website "JackInTheHouse", focusing on convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his various political connections. Melanie Sloan is the Executive Director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. ... John Conyers John Conyers, Jr. ... Charles Ellis Chuck Schumer (born November 23, 1950) is an American politician. ... ÷ It has been suggested that Category:Jack Abramoff scandals be merged into this article or section. ...

According to The Washington Post, CREW is funded in part through the efforts of "Democracy Alliance," a loose group of appoximately one hundred progressive-oriented political donors who saw CREW as a possible counterweight to the conservative-leaning Judicial Watch.^[1] Judicial Watch styles itself as "a non-profit, public interest law firm dedicated to fighting government corruption." The Washington Post is the largest newspaper in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. ... Judicial Watch is a American government watchdog organization founded in 1994. ...

Senator Conrad Burns, one of those named by CREW as corrupt for his close ties to Abramoff, has said that the organization is "nothing but a group of partisan hacks doing the dirty work of Democrats."[2] Conrad Ray Burns (born January 25, 1935) is the junior United States Senator from Montana and thanks to intergalactic communication, now known to be the biggest douchebag in the universe. ... The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States; the other being the Republican Party. ...

In response, CREW has stated they do have an agenda that goes beyond ethics. "We are progressive," said Naomi Seligman, the group's deputy director and a former spokeswoman for Senator Max Baucus of Montana. "We do work within a larger progressive infrastructure." Seligman suggested her group is the progressive counterweight to Judicial Watch.[3] Progressivism is a term that refers to a broad school of contemporary international social and political philosophies. ... Max Sieben Baucus (born December 11, 1941) is the senior United States Senator from Montana and is a member of the Democratic Party. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Judicial Watch is a American government watchdog organization founded in 1994. ...

Some cases with CREW involvement

• Clint Curtis
• Swift Boat Veterans for Truth
• Theft of Democratic documents within the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary
• Ethics violations by Tom DeLay
• Valerie Plame Wilson and Joseph C. Wilson v. I. Lewis Scooter Libby, Karl Rove and Richard B. Cheney
• Rep. Mark Foley and the Mark Foley scandal
• Rep. Curt Weldon, presently being investigated by the FBI

Clint Curtis (born 1958) is a programmer who worked for Yang Enterprises (YEI) in Oviedo, Florida until February 2001. ... Swift Vets and POWs for Truth, formerly known as the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth (SBVT), is an organization of American Swift boat veterans and former prisoners of war of the Vietnam War, formed during the 2004 presidential election campaign. ... The Democratic Party is one of two major political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. ... The U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary (informally Senate Judiciary Committee) is a standing committee of the United States Senate, the upper house of the United States Congress. ... Thomas Dale Tom DeLay (born April 8, 1947) is a former member of the United States House of Representatives from Sugar Land, Texas, the former House Majority Leader, and a prominent member of the Republican Party. ... [edit intro] Valerie Plame with her husband Joseph C. Wilson, photographed after her CIA identity became public knowledge. ... For more detail about the political scandal, see Plame affair. ... I. Lewis Libby I. Lewis Scooter Libby Jr. ... Karl Rove Karl Christian Rove (born December 25, 1950) is Deputy Chief of Staff to President George W. Bush. ... Richard Bruce Dick Cheney (born January 30, 1941) is the 46th and current Vice President of the United States, serving under President George W. Bush. ... Mark Foley Mark Adam Foley (born September 8, 1954) is an American politician who served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1995 until 2006, representing the 16th District of Florida. ... Mark Foley The Mark Foley scandal, which broke in late September 2006, centers on sexually explicit and solicitative e-mails and instant messages sent by Mark Foley, a Republican Congressman from Florida, to congressional pages and former pages. ... Curt Weldon (born July 22, 1947) is an American politician. ... The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is a Federal police force which is the principal investigative arm of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). ...

CREW's "20 Most Corrupt Members of Congress"

House of Representatives

• Rep. Roy Blunt [4] (R-MO)
• Rep. Ken Calvert [5](R-CA) (new, September 2006)
• Rep. John Doolittle [6](R-CA) (new, September 2006)
• Rep. Tom Feeney [7] (R-FL)
• Rep. Katherine Harris [8] (R-FL) (new, September 2006)
• Rep. William Jefferson [9] (D-LA)
• Rep. Jerry Lewis [10](R-CA) (new, September 2006)
• Rep. Gary Miller [11](R-CA) (new, September 2006)
• Rep. Alan Mollohan [12](D-WV) (new, September 2006)
• Rep. Marilyn Musgrave [13] (R-CO)
• Rep. Richard Pombo [14] (R-CA)
• Rep. Rick Renzi [15] (R-AZ)
• Rep. Pete Sessions [16](R-TX) (new, September 2006)
• Rep. John Sweeney [17](R-NY) (new, September 2006)
• Rep. Charles H. Taylor [18] (R-NC)
• Rep. Maxine Waters [19] (D-CA)
• Rep. Curt Weldon [20] (R-PA) (new, September 2006)

Roy D. Blunt (born January 10, 1950) is a Republican politician from Missouri, currently representing that states 7th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. ... Ken Calvert (born June 8, 1953), American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1993, representing the 44th Congressional District of California. ... This page is about the politician; for the fictional animal doctor, see Doctor Dolittle. ... Thomas Charles Feeney III, usually known as Tom Feeney (born May 21, 1958), is a Republican politician from the state of Florida. ... Katherine Harris (born April 5, 1957, Key West, Florida) was a second-term Republican member of the United States House of Representatives representing Floridas 13th congressional district (map). ... William Jefferson William Jennings Jefferson (born March 14, 1947) is an American politician from the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... Charles Jeremy Jerry Lewis (born October 21, 1934), an American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1979, representing the 41st District of California (map). ... Gary G. Miller (born October 16, 1948), American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1999, representing the 42nd District of California (map). ... Alan Bowlby Mollohan (born May 14, 1943) is an American politician. ... Musgrave (left) receives a pro-life Susan B. Anthony Award from Jane Abraham. ... Richard Pombo Richard William Pombo (born January 8, 1961), American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1993, representing the 11th District of California. ... Richard George Renzi (born June 11, 1958) is an American politician and has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 2003, representing the 1st District of Arizona (map). ... Categories: People stubs | 1955 births | Members of the U.S. House of Representatives | Texas politicians ... John E. Sweeney (born August 9, 1955) is a Republican politician from the U.S. state of New York, currently representing the states 20th Congressional district (map) in the United States House of Representatives. ... Charles Hart Taylor is an American politician; a Republican, he has represented North Carolinas 11th Congressional district (map) in the United States House of Representatives since 1991. ... Maxine Waters Maxine Waters (born Maxine Moore Carr on August 15, 1938), United States politician, has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1991, representing the 35th District of California (map). ... Curt Weldon (born July 22, 1947) is an American politician. ...

Senate

• Sen. Conrad Burns [21] (R-MT)
• Sen. Bill Frist [22] (R-TN)
• Sen. Rick Santorum [23] (R-PA)

Conrad Ray Burns (born January 25, 1935) is the junior United States Senator from Montana and thanks to intergalactic communication, now known to be the biggest douchebag in the universe. ... William Harrison Bill Frist (born February 22, 1952 in Nashville, Tennessee) is a Republican U.S. Senator from Tennessee. ... Santorum redirects here. ...

"Five members to watch" (added September 2006)

• Rep. Chris Cannon [24] (R-UT)
• Rep. Dennis Hastert [25] (R-IL)
• Rep. J.D. Hayworth [26] (R-AZ)
• Rep. John Murtha [27] (D-PA)
• Rep. Don Sherwood [28] (R-PA)

Christopher Black Cannon (born October 20, 1950) is a member of the United States House of Representatives, for the Republican Party, representing the third district of Utah (map), since 1997. ... John Dennis Hastert (born January 2, 1942) is an American politician, and has served as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives since 1999. ... John D. J.D. Hayworth Jr. ... John Patrick “Jack” Murtha, Jr. ... Donald L. Sherwood (born March 5, 1941) is an American politician. ...

References

1. ^ VandeHei, Jim, Cillizza, Chris. "A New Alliance Of Democrats Spreads Funding", Washington Post, 2006-07-17, pp. A01. Retrieved on 2006-10-25.

... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... October 25 is the 298th day of the year (299th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Official Website
• .PDF File: "Beyond Delay: The 20 most corrupt members of Congress (and five to watch)"
• Washington Times "Inside Politics" column, May 11, 2005
• CREW Website "Valerie Plame Wilson and Former Ambassador Joseph Wilson Name Successor Counsel" news release, August 15, 2006