# Who's the Most Corrupt Member of Congress? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 8, 2009, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-most-corrupt-member-of-congress/513058 "2009-10-08T15:56:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-most-corrupt-member-of-congress/513058/21 "2009-10-08T19:45:00Z")
I think there needs to be a non-partisan investigative arm of Congress, much like the Congressional Budget Office. Because it’s always the case that when Republicans have the majority, investigations into Republican malfeasance are squashed, and when Democrats hold the majority, the investigations in to Democratic malfeasance are squashed. Clearly there’s a big conflict of interest in having Congress investigate itself. The Department of Justice is theoretically non-partisan, but that’s no longer the case, and hasn’t really been the case for a long time, going back several administrations. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-most-corrupt-member-of-congress/513058/22 "2009-10-08T20:16:26Z")
One of the ones we haven’t caught yet. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-most-corrupt-member-of-congress/513058/23 "2009-10-08T20:17:36Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > I think there needs to be a non-partisan investigative arm of Congress, much like the Congressional Budget Office. Because it’s always the case that when Republicans have the majority, investigations into Republican malfeasance are squashed, and when Democrats hold the majority, the investigations in to Democratic malfeasance are squashed. Clearly there’s a big conflict of interest in having Congress investigate itself. > > The Department of Justice is theoretically non-partisan, but that’s no longer the case, and hasn’t really been the case for a long time, going back several administrations. Sure thing. The Dem. controlled house just announced an expansion of the investigation of Rangel’s financial dealings. The investigation is going deeper. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-most-corrupt-member-of-congress/513058/24 "2009-10-08T20:19:26Z")
Interesting observation, **Sam**. Would you share with us what Clinton admin Justice Dept corruption you place on the same level as using US Attorneys to attack political enemies, or stuffing the Justice Dept with graduates of a third rate but ideologically reliable law school? Just so we get some perspective on your equivalence. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-most-corrupt-member-of-congress/513058/25 "2009-10-08T20:26:53Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > I think there needs to be a non-partisan investigative arm of Congress, much like the Congressional Budget Office. Because it’s always the case that when Republicans have the majority, investigations into Republican malfeasance are squashed, and when Democrats hold the majority, the investigations in to Democratic malfeasance are squashed. The word you’re looking for is “quashed”, just FYI. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-most-corrupt-member-of-congress/513058/26 "2009-10-08T20:41:23Z")
While I’m none too happy with Max Baucus, regret having voted for him before, and intend to vote against him at least in the primaries and possibly in the general if I’m still here in 2012, I will at least grant that so far, his sleaziness appears to be confined to the health coverage issue, and I don’t think there’s any evidence he’s done anything illegal yet. I don’t think that doing something legal against the interests of one’s constituents is quite enough to put him to the top of a list like this. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-most-corrupt-member-of-congress/513058/27 "2009-10-08T20:44:18Z")
Of course one of the all time dirtiest pols is on Dancing With the Stars. De Lay turned graft into an industry. He got the K Street bribers running a pipe line to his people. He spent vacations with Abramoff, for crying out loud. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-most-corrupt-member-of-congress/513058/28 "2009-10-08T22:23:35Z")
What about Maxine Waters (D-CA). Corrupt or crazy? ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-most-corrupt-member-of-congress/513058/29 "2009-10-08T22:49:31Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > How did I forget Ensign (R-Nevada) ?? Even he is small beans compared to Governor Gibbons, with a whopping low 10% approval rating (59% disapproval). He was pretty corrupt in congress, I don’t know if he can be said to have gotten worse or better since. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-most-corrupt-member-of-congress/513058/30 "2009-10-08T23:00:11Z")
> [@](#): > > I think there needs to be a non-partisan investigative arm of Congress, much like the Congressional Budget Office. Because it’s always the case that when Republicans have the majority, investigations into Republican malfeasance are squashed, and when Democrats hold the majority, the investigations in to Democratic malfeasance are squashed. Clearly there’s a big conflict of interest in having Congress investigate itself. > > The Department of Justice is theoretically non-partisan, but that’s no longer the case, and hasn’t really been the case for a long time, going back several administrations. A good solution in theory but how do you create a non-partisan agency in practice? Somebody is going to be appointing the investigators. I’m sure most Republicans would object if such an agency were being created and staffed right now with the mission of investigating elected officials for the next ten years. Just as I’m sure that Democrats would have been objecting if such an agency had been created and staffed five years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-most-corrupt-member-of-congress/513058/31 "2009-10-08T23:09:43Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > > [@Ludovic](#): > > > > Charley Rangel (R-NY). > > Rep. Jefferson (R-Louisiana). > > Senator Max Baucus (R-Montana). > > > > All good choices. > > Baucus is a Democrat. As is Rangel, **Ludovic’s** citation notwithstanding. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-most-corrupt-member-of-congress/513058/32 "2009-10-08T23:16:28Z")
_When you whoosh upon a star, makes no difference who you are…_ ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-most-corrupt-member-of-congress/513058/33 "2009-10-08T23:55:33Z")
If Ensign’s “sex scandal” were only about sex, then I could see ignoring it, but it’s very much not about sex. The sex is just he tip of the very filthy and money-tainted iceberg. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-most-corrupt-member-of-congress/513058/34 "2009-10-08T23:57:06Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > _When you whoosh upon a star, makes no difference who you are…_ So, calling someone a Republican because they’re corrupt is a whoosh now? I didn’t get that memo. And yes, I saw that **Ludovic’s** cite was of himself. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-most-corrupt-member-of-congress/513058/35 "2009-10-09T02:14:23Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Ol’ Charlie? Maybe, but I really like the guy, he reminds me of Adam Clayton Powell, who was a pirate, a hypocrite, and an ordained minister, and I liked him too. Can’t help it. Just like a high-school girl’s fatal attraction to Bad Boys? Am I the first here to suggest you are not a guy? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-most-corrupt-member-of-congress/513058/36 "2009-10-09T03:47:42Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > So, calling someone a Republican because they’re corrupt is a whoosh now? I didn’t get that memo. Fox News has placed a “D” beside corrupt Republican’s names too often to be coincidence [/ruining the joke] ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-most-corrupt-member-of-congress/513058/37 "2009-10-09T04:35:26Z")
Baucus. Sold the chance to reform the national healthcare system for $1.5 million. Next to that the guys getting no-bid contracts for their companies are small potatoes. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-most-corrupt-member-of-congress/513058/38 "2009-10-09T04:59:32Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Only #11 on [this list](http://www.crewsmostcorrupt.org/report). You missed something – that list is alphabetical by surname. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-most-corrupt-member-of-congress/513058/39 "2009-10-09T06:17:22Z")
We’re going about accusations, not convictions, right? Well, the chief suspects are Rangel and Ensign. Rangel is accused of being a tax cheat and not reporting assets as required by ethics rules. Frankly at this point I’m done with Rangel and want him to resign. Despite having supported him in the past, he has not demonstrated his innocence. He should go the way of Abramoff buddy Tom Delay and resign in disgrace and maybe avoid criminal conviction. But Sen. Ensign is right up there. Fucking your best friend’s wife is pretty corrupt all by itself. Bribing him to keep quite is participating in a blackmail scheme, a crime. Making your elderly parents make the payment and take the blame is just priceless. Claiming that you did nothing wrong and having Fox News back you is something only a Republican could pull off. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-most-corrupt-member-of-congress/513058/40 "2009-10-09T08:32:12Z")
> [@yorick73](#): > > and, of course, all the sex scandals. I don’t really consider sex scandals as corruption. Then you’re almost certainly going to find mostly Democrats on your list. Scandals for Republicans are mostly about sex; for Democrats mostly about money.\* - (Sounds rather like the top 2 items in lists of _what causes divorce?_, doesn’t it.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-most-corrupt-member-of-congress/513058.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-most-corrupt-member-of-congress/513058.md?page=3)