Watchdog: Sen. Vitter tried to ‘bribe’ Sec. Salazar with pay raise

By David Edwards

The watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) says Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) may have gone too far when he demanded President Barack Obama's Interior secretary approve deepwater oil well permits in exchange for a salary increase.

CREW filed a complaint (PDF) Tuesday calling for the Senate Select Committee on Ethics to investigate Vitter for bribery.

In a May 23 letter (PDF) to Secretary Ken Salazar, Vitter was clear that he would not vote for a pay raise until the Department of Interior began issuing six deepwater exploratory permits each month.

"Last Friday, I was asked to support legislation in the Senate to grant you a nearly $20,000 salary increase," Vitter wrote. "Given the completely unsatisfactory pace of your department's issuance of new deepwater exploratory permits in the Gulf, I cannot possibly give my assent."

"[W]hen the rate of permits issued for new deepwater exploratory wells reaches pre-moratorium levels (so 6 per month), I will end my efforts to block your salary increase."

For his part, Salazar quickly turned down the offer, asking that the pay bill be withdrawn.

"[A]s the Senate has considered the disparity of Cabinet salaries relating to the Emoluments Clause, a Member of the Senate has taken the position, in writing, that his vote on the issue is dependent upon the outcomes of his attempted coercion of public acts here at the Department," he wrote in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). "That position is wrong, and it must be made perfectly clear that his attempt cannot and will not affect the execution of the solemn legal responsibilities that the Department undertakes on behalf of the American people."

The federal bribery statute states that "[w]hoever directly or indirectly, corruptly gives, offers or promises anything of value to any public official... to influence any official act" could faces fines, up to two years in prison or both.

Vitter's office has dared the Justice Department to file charges.

"I urge the Obama administration to prosecute," Vitter spokesman Luke Bolar told Politico. "They'll make fools of themselves in court and make my boss a Louisiana folk hero at the same time."

"Whether it is a defense contractor buying French furniture for a congressman in exchange for earmarks, or a senator who ties a department secretary’s pay raise to approving permits, bribery is bribery," CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan said in a statement Tuesday.

"Perhaps given that Sen. Vitter escaped accountability for soliciting prostitutes, he also thinks he can evade responsibility for violating the bribery laws," she added. "At some point, the Senate Ethics Committee needs to make clear to Sen. Vitter that he has to follow the same rules and laws as everyone else."

Group: Boehner broke the law by spending $500,000 to defend DOMA

By David Edwards

The watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) filed a complaint Tuesday against House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), alleging that he violated the law and House rules by agreeing to pay an outside law firm $500,000 to defend the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

In the complaint filed with the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE), CREW charged that Boehner had violated the Antideficiency Act, which prohibits "making or authorizing an expenditure from, or creating or authorizing an obligation under, any appropriation or fund in excess of the amount available in the appropriation or fund unless authorized by law," according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

"It is ironic that Speaker Boehner -- a fierce critic of government overspending -- did not hesitate to pledge half a million dollars he does not have to defend a law of dubious constitutionality," CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan said in a statement. "It seems the speaker believes fiscal responsibility starts at home, but not in the House."

"Speaker Boehner has vowed to end deficit spending and usher in a new era of government fiscal austerity, warning Americans we need to make do with less. But apparently, the House leadership can continue freely spending money it doesn’t have," she added. "This is yet another case of do as I say, not as I do. No wonder the public is so cynical about politics."

The Speaker's office responded by accusing CREW of targeting Republicans.

"This 'complaint' is off-base and stupid to the point that it creates the appearance of partisanship by CREW," Boehner spokesman Michael Steel said in a statement. "The Speaker expects any cost to be recouped from the Obama Administration Justice Department, which should be defending the law in court. The 'anti-deficiency act' has nothing to do with this situation, as anyone with a basic grasp of the law knows."

In February, President Barack Obama decided that a key section of the DOMA, legislation passed by Congress in 1996 that defines marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman, was unconstitutional. The law prohibits legally married same sex couples from receiving federal benefits.

After declaring it unconstitutional, Obama ordered the Department of Justice to stop defending the law in court.

Boehner first contracted with the law firm King & Spalding to continue defending at least 10 DOMA cases, but they backed out under pressure from the public. Bancroft, PLLC was later retained to defend the law.

The $500,000 contract represents more than 35 percent of the Office of General Counsel's budget. "With more than two-thirds of the fiscal year having passed, the office will not have sufficient funds to pay for both its remaining salaries and expenses and the DOMA defense," according to the complaint (PDF).

Boehner could face a fine of $5,000 and two years in prison if found guilty of violating the Antideficiency Act.

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Breitbart says of O'Keefe's crew: "Give 'em a misdemeanor. They didn't do anything wrong"