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Republicans ditch plan to gut ethics watchdog after Trump outcry
Following critical tweets by Donald Trump, House Republicans drop plan to remove the independence of the Office of Congressional Ethics
The proposal was moved by Congressman Bob Goodlatte (left) but criticised by Donald Trump
US House Republicans were forced to drop their plan to gut an independent congressional ethics watchdog, following fierce criticism by President-elect Donald Trump.
The original rule change to weaken the Office of Congressional Ethics was first announced on Monday night, provoking a fierce backlash from Democrats and government watchdogs. However, it was ditched at an emergency meeting just before the start of a new legislative session on Capitol Hill in Washington after Trump took to Twitter to denounce the move.
“With all that Congress has to work on, do they really have to make the weakening of the Independent Ethics Watchdog, as unfair as it may be, their number one act and priority,” he tweeted. “Focus on tax reform, healthcare and so many other things of far greater importance!”
He added the hashtag #DTS, for his campaign slogan “drain the swamp”.
Asked about the tweets, Trump’s incoming press secretary Sean Spicer told journalists: “He says their focus should be on tax reform and healthcare. It’s not a question of strengthening or weakening, it’s a question of priorities.”
Even before Trump’s tweet, many House Republicans had opposed the proposed measures. Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan and House majority leader Kevin McCarthy had urged the party to seek bipartisan support and to wait to push for the change later. However, Virginia Congressman Bob Goodlatte submitted the proposal against the advice of his own party’s leaders.
