Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington - David Vitter

FEC vote should mean campaign funds can't pay all Vitter's legal fees tied to D.C. Madam case

crew — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 08:43:39 -0500

CREW released this statement after we got the news that the FEC Commissioners deadlocked

Today’s decision indicates the FEC has finally recognized that at least in some cases, members of Congress should not be allowed to use campaign funds to bail them out of legal problems of their own making. This breaks with the FEC’s pattern of granting members permission to pay lawyers with campaign funds nearly every time the issue has been raised. It remains to be seen whether this is a one-time decision or whether the FEC really is breaking with its past precedents.

Here's how the Times-Picayune described the FEC proceedings:

Dividing along partisan lines, the Federal Election Commission couldn't agree Thursday on whether Sen. David Vitter, R-La., can use campaign money to pay all the legal costs related to his involvement in a Washington escort service scandal.

In a 3-3 vote, with all three Republicans voting yes and all three Democrats no, the commission deadlocked on whether Vitter could use campaign money to pay more than $160,000 in legal fees accrued in monitoring the federal criminal case against Deborah Jeane Palfrey, the so-called "D.C. Madam," and quashing her defense team's subpoenas of the senator. A majority vote is required for passage of a resolution.

FEC Staff: VItter shouldn't be allowed to use campaign funds to pay legal fees from D.C. Madam case

crew — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 07:23:09 -0500

This staff decision makes sense to us. Vitter's involvement with the D.C. Madam had nothing to do with his status as a federal candidate. His campaign account shouldn't be a legal slush fund. We hope the FEC upholds the staff recommendation:

In asking for permission to use campaign money for legal expenses, Vitter's attorneys said that he would not have been subpoenaed by the Palfrey defense were it not for his status as a U.S. senator.

The commission's lawyers said that "even assuming that to be true, " it would not be enough to justify use of campaign money to pay the $85,322 in legal fees to quash the Palfrey subpoenas and another $75,213 for lawyers to monitor the Palfrey legal proceedings. Vitter's attorneys said that the senator already has spent $70,000 of his own money to cover the legal bills, which amounted to more than $200,000.

"Here Sen. Vitter's need for legal representation to quash Ms. Palfrey's subpoenas stemmed from his role as a potential witness in Ms. Palfrey's trial and was not related to information known to or acquired by Sen. Vitter during the course of his candidacy or in the performance of his duties as a U.S. senator, " the FEC attorneys wrote. "Moreover, Sen. Vitter's obligation as a witness to comply with a valid subpoena would exist irrespective of Sen. Vitter's campaign or duties as a U.S. senator."

In the end, Palfrey didn't call Vitter as a witness, although the federal judge overseeing the case said there was no legal impediment to her doing so.

Vitter wants campaign funds to pay legal fees stemming from his involvement with prostitute case

crew — Thu, 3 Jul 2008 08:39:16 -0500

There haven't been many surprises when it comes to the scandal involving Senator David Vitter and his interaction with prostitutes. There have been no legal or ethical ramifications for the Louisiana Senator. The "toothless" Senate Ethics Committee exonerated him. Now, he's gaming the system even more. Vitter intends to use campaign funds to pay his legal fees:

U.S. Sen. David Vitter will ask the Federal Election Commission today whether he can use campaign funds to pay for the $137,177 in legal fees he incurred from his involvement in the case of a woman convicted of running a high-priced Washington prostitution ring.

The Louisiana Republican acknowledged in July 2007 that his phone number appeared on the client list of the woman dubbed “the D.C. Madam.” Deborah Jeane Palfrey was convicted in federal court in April of money laundering, mail fraud and conspiracy.

In a letter to the FEC, an attorney for Vitter says his client incurred the legal expenses in monitoring the Palfrey trial and quashing the subpoenas issued to him.

Vitter also had to hire attorneys to defend himself to the Senate Ethics Committee because of a complaint filed by the government watchdog group Citizens For Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. The complaint was dismissed by the committee, which noted that Vitter was not charged with a crime and the incidents occurred when he was a House member.

"The toothless Senate Ethics Committee lived up to its reputation" on Vitter

crew — Fri, 9 May 2008 08:17:57 -0500

In a post titled, "Senate Ethics: Another DC Oxymoron," the Mouth of the Potomac blasted the complete exoneration of David Vitter:

The toothless Senate Ethics Committee lived up to its reputation today, declining to investigate the antics of admitted john Sen. David Vitter (R-La.).

Vitter was an admitted client of the escort service run by Deborah Jeane Palfrey, who committed suicide earlier this month rather than going to prison.

Now the less-than-heroic souls on the Senate Ethics Committee probably thought they could slide its suspect decision without anyone noticing. Tough luck though: the legal watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington caught them and sent out an angry statement:

“The Senate Ethics Committee has once again done what it does best: nothing,” said CREW Deputy Director Naomi Seligman.

CREW statement on dismissal of ethics complaint against Vitter. Not even a slap on the wrist.

crew — Thu, 8 May 2008 16:41:47 -0500

The letter CREW received from the Senate Ethics Committee is in the post below. Here's our statement:

The Senate Ethics Committee has once again done what it does best: nothing.

Following its standard operating procedure, the Committee announced today that it has dismissed CREW’s complaint against Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) without prejudice. As a result, we will never know whether Sen. Vitter violated Senate Rules by soliciting for prostitution.

While Deborah Jeane Palfrey, who committed suicide last week, was found guilty of operating a prostitution ring, Sen. Vitter has not been held accountable for his activities. He walks away without even a slap on the wrist.

BREAKING, but not surprising: Senate Ethics Committee dismissed Ethics Complaint against Senator Vitter

crew — Thu, 8 May 2008 16:23:18 -0500

The Senate Ethics Committee did what it does best today -- NOTHING. Today, CREW received a response to the ethics complaint we filed against Senator Vitter last year. It was dismissed "without prejudice." We'll have a statement shortly. In the meantime, here's the letter:

D.C. Madam found guilty

crew — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:36:50 -0500

Justice is served to the D.C. Madam. Still waiting for some kind of action against her former patron, David Vitter:

Deborah Jeane Palfrey was convicted this afternoon of racketeering and other charges after a federal court jury determined that her upscale escort service was actually a front for prostitution.

Jurors deliberated less than eight hours before returning the verdicts against Palfrey, 52, who stood impassively, with her hands folded in front of her, as the decision was read. She will remain free pending her sentencing July 24.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine Connelly urged U.S. District Judge James Robertson to lock Palfrey up immediately, arguing that the verdict will give the woman dubbed the D.C. Madam a motive to flee. But the judge, noting that Palfrey has never missed a court appearance, denied the request.

The jury heard four days of often tawdry testimony from employees and clients of Pamela Martin & Associates, the business that Palfrey ran until 2006. Palfrey, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, did not testify. The jury convicted her of all charges: one count of racketeering, two of using the mail for illegal purposes, and one of money laundering.

Vitter won't be testifying at D.C. Madam Trial

crew — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 10:14:25 -0500

News today that Senator David Vitter will not be called to testify at the trial of the alleged D.C. Madam:

Sen. David Vitter will not have to testify about his ties to an upscale Washington escort service, a defense attorney said Monday, sparing the Louisiana Republican an embarrassing trip to the witness stand.

Vitter has been on notice for more than a week that he could have to appear during the prostitution trial of Deborah Palfrey. Palfrey's attorney, Preston Burton, said he would rest his case Monday without calling Vitter or any other witnesses.

While Vitter still has not been subject to any ethical repercussions for his actions, one of the former prostitutes has:

A Navy officer who taught a leadership and ethics course at the Naval Academy faces dismissal after she testified Thursday that she moonlighted as an escort for the so-called D.C. Madam.

CREW filed an ethics complaint against Vitter last July. We're still waiting.

Senator Larry Craig offers advice and support to Senator David Vitter

crew — Wed, 9 Apr 2008 09:42:17 -0500

CREW has repeatedly expressed concern about the disparate treatment between the criminal scandals involving Senator Larry Craig and Senator David Vitter. Craig was the subject of an admonishment from the Senate Ethics Committee while no such action has been taken against Vitter.

This week, as Vitter awaits the news of whether he'll be a witness in the D.C. Madam's trial, Senator Craig had some words of wisdom and support for his colleague:

Embattled Louisiana Sen. David Vitter (R) is getting support from fellow Republicans who say he should not resign over a public sex scandal — including from someone who can speak from experience.

Sen. Larry Craig of Idaho was among several GOP senators who say Vitter’s testimony in the “D.C. Madam” prostitution case should not compel his resignation.

“First and foremost, in these kinds of issues, it’s the state and the relationship you have with your state that really determines where you ought to go,” Craig said. “That was certainly my case. The Senate itself wasn’t going to judge me. I would allow the citizens of my state to do so. And there is still strong support there."

Craig went through his own trial-by-media last year, after his arrest for and guilty plea to soliciting sex from an undercover male officer in a Minneapolis airport.

Vitter may be called to testify at trial of DC Madam. When will Senate Ethics Committee call him to testify?

crew — Mon, 7 Apr 2008 11:31:36 -0500

Via Justin Rood at ABC's blog, The Blotter, we learn that Louisiana Senator David Vitter, an admitted client of the so-called D.C. Madam, may be called to testify as a witness in her upcoming criminal case:

A U.S. senator who admitted to using the "D.C. Madam" escort service is fighting a subpoena to testify at her trial –- down to the opening gavel this morning.

Defending herself against a sortie of felony charges stemming from running an alleged interstate prostitution business, Deborah Jeane Palfrey has subpoenaed Sen. David Vitter, R-La., to testify.

Vitter's telephone number appeared in the phone records of Palfrey's business for February 2001, which Palfrey had released to the media. At the time that was revealed, Vitter issued a statement confirming he had used the service. Through his lawyer, Vitter has said he will not testify.

At a last-minute hearing Friday, U.S. District Court Judge James Robertson appeared to reject an argument by a lawyer who has represented Vitter that his client's testimony would be "totally inappropriate," reported Legal Times. The judge declined to nullify the subpoena.

The lawyer, Henry Asbill, declined to confirm that Vitter was the client in question. Vitter's office also declined to do so, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune. Instead it issued a brief statement from Vitter to "reaffirm how sorry I am to have hurt the people I love so deeply. . . including the people of Louisiana."

Asbill said that if forced to testify, his client was prepared to invoke his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

Clearly, Vitter doesn't want to take the stand. We're still waiting for the Senate Ethics Committee to hold Vitter accountable. CREW filed an ethics complaint against Vitter last July. His GOP colleagues welcomed Vitter with "thunderous applause."