Topic: Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington

Romney pressed to release tax returns. Watchdogs ask what about Congress?

Democrats and some Republicans are hounding Mitt Romney to release his tax returns. But ask Congress members to release theirs and silence is the most frequent response. Double standard? 

Edwards trial: prosecutors drop all charges

The U.S. Attorney's office announced that it will not be seeking to reset the trial on any of the counts jurors could not reach a verdict on.

Vox News Rupert Murdoch deemed 'not fit' to lead media in Britain. What about US?

A British parliamentary panel found that Rupert Murdoch is 'not fit' to run media giant News Corp. But the question for Congress is: What laws – if any – were broken in the US?

Ex-wife said she could destroy Newt Gingrich campaign. Will she? (+video)

Newt Gingrich has surged to No. 2 before the South Carolina primary. But on Thursday night, ABC airs an interview with his second ex-wife, Marianne, who has previously said, 'I don’t think he should be' president.

Why Congress is warming up to ban on insider trading

On Tuesday, the House Financial Services Committee launched a hearing on legislation that would explicitly ban members of Congress from insider trading.

Can 'super committee' play fair as it tries to control national debt?

The task of reining in the national debt lies in the hands of a super committee of 12, which gets down to business now that Congress is returning from its summer break.

Anthony Weiner scandal: Is anything in Congress private anymore?

Rep. Anthony Weiner finally acceded to demands that he resign because of his 'sexting' scandal. The incident further opens private lives in Congress to public scrutiny.

Sex scandals in Congress: What Rep. Weiner's 'sexting' adds to the literature

How Congress has dealt with sex scandals has changed over time. The big issues for Rep. Weiner include whether there was an abuse of office or any use of official resources.

Sen. John Ensign sex scandal spreads to other Republicans

Sen. Tom Coburn and former Sen. Rick Santorum appear to have been involved in the scandal that brought down former Sen. John Ensign. A Senate Ethics Committee investigation could lead to criminal charges for Ensign.

John Ensign resignation puts focus on Nevada elections. Will GOP have an edge?

Facing scandal, Sen. John Ensign (R) of Nevada is resigning. That allows Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval to name a replacement, which in turn could open up a US House seat.

Tom DeLay: How his crowning moment became a money laundering conviction

Tom DeLay, a former GOP House majority leader, was instrumental in the GOP taking the Texas Legislature in 2002 for the first time since Reconstruction. But one of his contributions to the cause was illegally laundered money, a jury ruled Wednesday.

Witchcraft? Rent money? Christine O'Donnell's big problem: she's behind.

If Delaware's Senate election were held today, 'tea party'-backed Christine O'Donnell would lose, according to a just-released poll.

Christine O'Donnell: OK to use $20,000 in campaign funds to pay her rent?

Christine O'Donnell, the Republican party candidate for a senate seat in Delaware, used campaign money to pay half her rent, according to a Federal Elections Commission filing. Christine O'Donnell denies doing anything wrong.

Tom DeLay cleared in federal probe, but Texas charges loom

Former House majority leader Tom DeLay was not charged in a federal investigation into ties with convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff. But he faces a Texas indictment for violating campaign-finance laws.

House details 13 violations against Rep. Charles Rangel

The 13 charges against Rep. Charles Rangel include allegedly failing to report $600,000 in income and improper fundraising for the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service.

Supreme Court's Jeffrey Skilling ruling helps former Alaska official, too

The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled in three cases involving fraud under the federal honest services law. Ex-Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling, newspaper magnate Conrad Black, and former Alaska state Rep. Bruce Weyhrauch are all likely to benefit.

What did GOP's bid to oust Charles Rangel accomplish?

The attempt to remove Charles Rangel from his seat as chairman of an influential House committee keeps allegations of bribery in the public eye.

Sen. John Ensign scandal gets deeper with allegation of lobbying misdeeds

Did Senator Ensign violate a lobbying ban by helping a former staffer who's wife he had had an affair with? Ethics watchdogs think so.

Reversing course, White House will release visitor logs

The records will be available to the public for the first time in history. The change came as a result of Freedom of Information Act lawsuits filed by a watchdog group.

Jefferson's bribery conviction: a mixed legacy

Justice Department prevailed in the infamous 'freezer cash' case, but it lost ground in law enforcement's ability to wiretap or investigate members of Congress.

On White House visitor list, Obama’s 'transparency' is murky

Critics say the president is acting like Bush by preventing visitor logs from becoming public.

Sarah Palin's $150,000 wardrobe malfunction ruled OK

Ethics lapses dog prosecutors of Stevens' corruption trial

A federal judge dismissed the former senator's conviction Tuesday and ordered an independent probe into the conduct of six Justice Department lawyers.

USA

Lawmaker ethics. An oxymoron?

Democrats promised to make Congress more ethical. Did they succeed? A little ... maybe.