Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington

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Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) is an American watchdog group founded in 2003. Its stated mission is to "promote ethics and accountability in government and public life by targeting government officials - regardless of party affiliation - who sacrifice the common good to special interests." To carry out its mission CREW engages in litigation, public advocacy, Freedom of Information Act requests, and official complaints to government agencies such as the Federal Election Commission and the Internal Revenue Service.[1] One of their most visible projects is an annual list of Washington politicians they label as the "most corrupt." The group is officially non-partisan, and receives partial funding from the Democracy Alliance.

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[edit] 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)"[2]. 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." CREW also ran the website "JackInTheHouse," focusing on convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his various political connections.

[edit] Director

Melanie Sloan, Executive Director of CREW, founded the organization in 2003. Sloan is a former United States Attorney and has served as an aide to Representative John Conyers and Senator Charles Schumer, both Democrats. She currently serves on the legal team of Valerie Plame,[3] helping her sue Vice President Dick Cheney, Dick Armitage, Scooter Libby and Karl Rove.[4][5]

[edit] Funding

According to The Washington Post, CREW is funded in part through the efforts of "Democracy Alliance," a loose group of approximately one hundred progressive-oriented political donors who saw CREW as a possible counterweight to the conservative watchdog group, Judicial Watch.[6]

[edit] Criticism

Former 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."[7] 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.[7]

[edit] Some cases with CREW involvement

[edit] References

  1. ^ Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (2008). About CREW. Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  2. ^ Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. Beyond Delay: The 22 Most Corrupt Members of Congress (and two to watch). Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  3. ^ "Melanie Sloan , Legal Counsel For Joe and Valerie Wilson, Responds to Dismissal of Civil Suit". The Joseph and Valerie Wilson Support Trust. http://www.wilsonsupport.org/. Retrieved 27 July 2007.
  4. ^ Associated Press (2007-07-19), Plame Suit Dismissed, <http://thenewshole.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/07/19/278613.aspx>. Retrieved on 26 May 2008 .
  5. ^ Leonigg, Carol D. "Plame's Suit Against Top Officials Dismissed", Washington Post, 2007-07-20. Retrieved on 2008-05-26. 
  6. ^ VandeHei, Jim; Cillizza, Chris. "A New Alliance Of Democrats Spreads Funding", Washington Post, 2006-07-17, pp. A01. Retrieved on 2006-10-25. 
  7. ^ a b Johnson, Charles S. (October 1, 2005), “Burns calls 'corrupt' label from group 'maliciously false”, The Billings Gazette, <http://www.billingsgazette.com/newdex.php?display=rednews/2005/10/02/build/state/55-corrupt-label.inc> 

[edit] External links

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