When I saw the headline, I prepared myself for a blockbuster. "Dozens in Congress under ethics inquiry!", railed the Washington Post. Turns out though, there was little new information. Many of the investigations are routine, yet minor examinations of possible lapses.
The House Ethics panel regulates members for allegations of impropriety. Where the Ethics panel has come under past criticism is its failure to adequately punish members. A (potential) case in point is the handling of Ways & Means Chair Charlie Rangel (D-NY).
Analysis
An important point must be made here. For all the talk of how corrupt politicians are, we fail to remember that it is their peers, fellow politicians who bring their misdeeds to light. Could they be more open about process? Possibly. But doing so, and publicly naming targets of investigation could easily derail careers before any allegations are proven. Transparency has its benefits, but it should not come at all costs.
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