22 members of Congress have been singled out for being "most corrupt." In their annual report, The Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics named:
Sen. Pete V. Domenici (R-NM): His ethics issues stem from his contacting the U.S. Attorney in Albuquerque, New Mexico to inquire about an ongoing corruption probe of Democrats.
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY): Senator McConnell’s ethics issues stem from earmarks he has inserted into legislation for clients of his former chief of staff, lobbyist Gordon Hunter Bates, in exchange for campaign contributions as well as the misuse of his nonprofit The McConnell Center for Political Leadership at the University of Louisville.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK): Sen. Murkowski’s ethics violations stem from her purchase of land in Alaska for a price below market value, her acceptance of a mortgage on terms not available to the general public and her failure to accurately disclose the transaction in her 2006 financial disclosure report.
Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK): Sen. Stevens’ ethics issues stem from his ties to the VECO Corporation; earmarks he has inserted for companies that paid his son, Ben Stevens; his relationship with his brother-in-law, lobbyist William Bittner; his relationship with Alaskan real estate developers Jonathan Rubini and Leonard Hyde; as well as the activities of his non-profit, The Ted Stevens Foundation.
Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA): His ethics issues stem from his use of earmarks for personal gain and his connections to a lobbying firm under investigation.
Rep. John T. Doolittle (R-CA): Doolittle’s ethics issues stem from his wife’s relationship to his campaign and political action committees, as well as campaign contributions and personal financial benefits he accepted from those who sought his legislative assistance. Rep. Doolittle is currently the subject of a Department of Justice investigation.
Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL): Rep. Feeney’s ethics violations stem from his relationship with convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff and three trips he took in apparent violation of House travel and gift rules.
Rep. Doc Hastings (R-WA): His ethics issues stem from his improper contact with a Washington U.S. Attorney.
Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA): Rep. Hunter’s ethics issues stem from his connection to now former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham and now indicted defense contractor Brent Wilkes. In addition, Rep. Hunter purchased his home in a questionable land deal, escaped paying full property taxes for many years, and gave conflicting reports of the property’s true value. Rep. Hunter also used the power of his office to financially benefit his brother and his presidential campaign has violated federal election law.
Rep. William J. Jefferson (D-LA): Rep. Jefferson’s ethics issues stem from his business dealings and from the misuse of federal resources.
Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA): Currently the ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, his ethics issues stem primarily from the misuse of his position as chairman of the committee to steer hundreds of millions of dollars in earmarks to family and friends in direct exchange for contributions to his campaign committee and political action committee.
Rep. Gary G. Miller (R-CA): His ethics issues stem from his relationship with Lewis Operating Company and the sale of property.
Rep. Alan B. Mollohan (D-WV): His ethics issues stem from misusing his position to benefit himself, his family and his friends and misreporting a dramatic increase in his personal assets.
Rep. Timothy F. Murphy (R-PA): Rep. Murphy’s ethics violations involve his misuse of official resources for political campaign activity. Rep. Murphy currently is the target of a Department of Justice investigation.
Rep. John P. Murtha (D-PA): Rep. Murtha’s ethics violations stem from abuse of his position on the subcommittee to benefit the lobbying firm of a former long-term staffer and from threatening to block earmarks of other members for political purposes.
Rep. Steve Pearce (R-NM): Rep. Pearce’s ethics issues stem from his failure to properly report a transaction on his financial disclosure report and from trading legislative assistance for campaign contributions.
Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ): Rep. Renzi’s ethics issues stem from assistance he offered to a former business partner and legislation he sponsored that benefitted his father’s employer.
Rep. Harold Rogers (R-KY): Rogers’ ethics issues stem from misuse of his position to steer millions of dollars in earmarks to campaign contributors, including a company that employs his son. A newspaper in his district, The Lexington Herald-Leader, has called Rep. Rogers the “Prince of Pork.”
Rep. David Scott (D-GA): Rep. Scott’s ethics issues stem from allegations of tax evasion and misuse of official resources for political campaign activity.
Rep. Jerry Weller (R-IL): Rep. Weller’s ethics issues stem from his repeated failure to report assets he bought and sold in Nicaragua, the misuse of his position to sell foreign property, his acceptance of campaign contributions from Puerto Rican interests in apparent exchange for supporting legislation that benefitted Puerto Rico, and his acceptance of campaign contributions in return for assisting a telecommunications executive in a dispute with a foreign government. In addition, there is a question as to whether Rep. Weller qualifies for a waiver allowing him to exclude his wife’s assets and liabilities from his financial disclosure forms. Then there is the matter of one of his staffers knocking a reporter down the stairs.
Rep. Heather A. Wilson (R-NM):Her ethics issues stem from improperly contacting a sitting U.S. Attorney.
Rep. Don Young (R-AK): Young’s ethics violations stem from the misuse of his position to benefit family and friends and to steer millions of dollars in earmarks to corporations in exchange for contributions to his campaign committee and political action committee, Midnight Sun PAC (MSPAC). Rep. Young is currently under four separate federal investigations including an investigation into his role in securing a $10 million earmark for a road in Florida, assistance he offered to recently convicted VECO executive Bill Allen, his ties to convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his financial relationship with recently indicted businessman Dennis Troha.
Dishonorable Mentions: Larry Craig and David Vitter
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