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Trump criticises new Republican Congress over ethics vote New Republican Congress reverses ethics move after outcry
(35 minutes later)
President-elect Donald Trump has criticised Republicans for voting to gut the independent body that investigates congressional misconduct. Republicans are to drop a plan to gut the independent body that investigates political misconduct, after an outcry.
Republicans voted in secret to close the Office of Congressional Ethics, against the advice of party leaders, sparking outrage from Democrats. President-elect Donald Trump had criticised Republicans after they voted to strip the Office of Congressional Ethics of its independence.
"Focus on tax reform, healthcare and so many other things of far greater importance!" Mr Trump said in a tweet."Focus on tax reform, healthcare and so many other things of far greater importance!" Mr Trump said in a tweet.
The proposal could be passed later in the first session of the new Congress. The proposal was dropped in an emergency meeting at the new Congress, unnamed lawmakers told the US media.
Mr Trump made cleaning up corruption in Washington a key theme of his campaign, and he ended his tweet with "#DTS", an acronym for "drain the swamp".Mr Trump made cleaning up corruption in Washington a key theme of his campaign, and he ended his tweet with "#DTS", an acronym for "drain the swamp".
Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan had argued unsuccessfully against the vote but on Tuesday he defended the proposal.Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan had argued unsuccessfully against the vote but on Tuesday he defended the proposal.
"I want to make clear that this House will hold its members to the highest ethical standards and the Office will continue to operate independently to provide public accountability to Congress," he said."I want to make clear that this House will hold its members to the highest ethical standards and the Office will continue to operate independently to provide public accountability to Congress," he said.
Decoding Trump's N Korea tweet
How might Trump 'drain the swamp'?How might Trump 'drain the swamp'?
Ford Motors cancels $1.6bn Mexico plantFord Motors cancels $1.6bn Mexico plant
Trump: North Korea intercontinental missile 'won't happen'
Trump v Republicans - who wins? Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington
Members of Congress have only just arrived back in Washington, and already there is a dispute brewing between president-elect Donald Trump and the Republican-controlled legislative branch.
The move on Monday night by House Republicans was already prompting condemnation by Democrats, good-government watchdogs and political commentators.
But given that Republicans will control all levers of power in the federal government and a public uproar seemed unlikely, the change appeared to be a fait accompli.
Then Donald Trump demonstrated just how quickly his itchy Twitter finger can alter the political dynamic. Because the president-elect weighed in against the move, Republicans in the House will now have to decide whether they want to cross their new standard bearer before he even takes the oath of office.
This has become an early test of Mr Trump's power of political persuasion. Can he use the presidential bully pulpit, magnified through social media, to bend members of his own party to his will?
Or will the man who campaigned on metaphorically draining the Washington swamp find his first steps mired in the muck?
Under the change:Under the change:
Senior Republican Congressmen Paul Ryan and Kevin McCarthy had urged their party to seek bipartisan support and to wait to push for the change later.Senior Republican Congressmen Paul Ryan and Kevin McCarthy had urged their party to seek bipartisan support and to wait to push for the change later.
But Virginia Congressman Bob Goodlatte submitted the proposal against the advice of his own party's leaders.But Virginia Congressman Bob Goodlatte submitted the proposal against the advice of his own party's leaders.
Mr Trump's tweets about the ethics committee came on a busy morning for the president-elect's Twitter account.Mr Trump's tweets about the ethics committee came on a busy morning for the president-elect's Twitter account.
He also warned North Korea about its nuclear ambitions, attacked Obamacare costs and sparked a row with General Motors over its manufacturing operation in Mexico, which the car firm disputes.He also warned North Korea about its nuclear ambitions, attacked Obamacare costs and sparked a row with General Motors over its manufacturing operation in Mexico, which the car firm disputes.