House Speaker Dennis J. Hastert today purged the House Ethics committee of Republican congressmen who were not willing to allow Rep. Tom DeLay's (R-Tx) possible indictment go without some form of punishment.
Hastert replaced Chairman Rep. Joel Hefley (R-Co) with Rep. Doc Hastings (R-Wa). Hastert also removed Rep. Kenny Hulshof (R-Mo) and Rep. Steven LaTourette (R-Oh). Remaining on the House Ethics committee are Hastings and Rep. Judy Biggert (R-Il).
Hastings and Biggert voted (in a closed-door meeting) to rescind a House rule that would strip a House leader of their responsibilities in the case of an indictment. Hefley, Hulshof and LaTourette all voted against rescinding that rule.
Hastert claims that the shakeup is because those who were replaced had served their time on the committee, which is a fairly transparent lie as those who remained on the committee have had longer tenure than any of those replaced.
In short, Hastert has legalized corruption in the House.