Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
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Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) is a progressive 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."[1] CREW advances its mission by engaging in litigation, public advocacy, Freedom of Information Act requests, media outreach and official complaints to government agencies such as the Federal Election Commission and the Internal Revenue Service.[1] "We are progressive," said Naomi Seligman, the group's deputy director and communications director. "We do work within a larger progressive infrastructure." Seligman suggested her group is the progressive counterweight to Judicial Watch.[2] One of their most visible projects is an annual report of Washington's most corrupt politicians.
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[edit] Director
Melanie Sloan serves as CREW's Executive Director. Prior to starting CREW in 2003, she served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Columbia. She currently serves on the legal team of Valerie Plame.[3]
[edit] Some cases with CREW involvement
- Preservation of Dick Cheney's Vice Presidential records
- 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.
- Tax allegations against Leslee Unruh, who spearheaded the South Dakota abortion ban.
- Former Representative Mark Foley (see Mark Foley scandal)
- Curt Weldon, presently being investigated by the FBI
- Bush White House e-mail controversy
- Allegations against Sen. John McCain that he failed to disclose gambling earnings.
- Investigation of Adolfo Carrion, Director of White House Office of Urban Affairs Policy
[edit] CREW's list of the 15 most corrupt members of Congress (2009)
- Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL)
- Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL)
- Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA)
- Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA)
- Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)
- Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL)
- Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA)
- Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
- Rep. Alan B. Mollohan (D-WV)
- Rep. John P. Murtha (D-PA)
- Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-NY)
- Rep. Laura Richardson (D-CA)
- Rep. Pete Visclosky (D-IN)
- Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA)
- Rep. Don Young (R-AK)
[edit] References
- ^ a b Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (2008). "About CREW". http://www.citizensforethics.org/about. Retrieved 2008-05-26.
- ^ Johnson, Charles S. (2005-10-02). "Burns calls 'corrupt' label from group 'maliciously false'". Billings Gazette. http://www.billingsgazette.com/newdex.php?display=rednews/2005/10/02/build/state/55-corrupt-label.inc. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
- ^ "Melanie Sloan Responds to Dismissal of Civil Suit". The Joe and Valerie Wilson Legal Support Trust. http://www.wilsonsupport.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=29. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
