House Republicans are facing criticism for their first act as the majority party in Congress: a proposal to weaken the Office of Congressional Ethics. The office, which has conducted investigations into both Democrats and Republicans since 2007, could soon probe the role some lawmakers played in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, and may investigate Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.), whose finances are under close examination.
House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) proposed the plan on Sunday, which has been met with criticism from both sides of the aisle. An interesting scene played out on the House floor as roll call voting was underway in the speaker’s race on Tuesday afternoon.
Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) had a rare moment of bipartisan agreement. According to a source close to Ocasio-Cortez, Gosar came to her with concerns that Democrats might be planning to help Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) secure the speakership. The pair make for an unlikely political coupling, as Gosar previously targeted Ocasio-Cortez in late 2021 with a bizarre anime-influenced video that depicted him attacking her with a sword.
The proposal to weaken the Office of Congressional Ethics has been met with criticism from both sides of the aisle, and it remains to be seen whether the plan will be successful. The office has been a major congressional watchdog since its creation in 2007, and its investigations have been an important part of maintaining ethical standards in Congress.
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