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House Republicans struggle to contain fallout from Scalise, Grimm controversies House Republicans struggle to contain fallout from Scalise, Grimm controversies
(35 minutes later)
Congressional Republican leaders struggled Monday to control the damage from a pair of controversies that have suddenly disrupted the party just days before taking full control of Capitol Hill next week. Congressional Republican leaders responded forcefully on Tuesday to control the damage from a pair of controversies that have suddenly disrupted the party just days before they take full control on Capitol Hill.
In back-to-back moves, House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) encouraged the resignation of Rep. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.), who pleaded guilty last week to federal tax evasion charges, and defended Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), even as some in the party grew anxious about the potential political fallout of his admission that he once addressed a white supremacist group. In back-to-back moves, House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) encouraged the resignation of Rep. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.), who pleaded guilty last week to federal tax evasion charges, and defended Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), even as some in the party grew anxious about the potential political fallout of his admission that he once addressed a white-supremacist group.
Boehner strongly defended Scalise Tuesday, saying that the Louisiana Republican “made an error in judgment, and he was right to acknowledge it was wrong and inappropriate.” Boehner strongly defended Scalise on Tuesday, saying that the Louisiana Republican “made an error in judgment, and he was right to acknowledge it was wrong and inappropriate.”
Earlier, he had tersely thanked Grimm for his service, saying that his resignation was “the honorable decision.”Earlier, he had tersely thanked Grimm for his service, saying that his resignation was “the honorable decision.”
The decisive moves earned Boehner earned plaudits from party leaders, who are anxious to start the new Congressional term in a position of strength in order to fully exploit their gains in the midterm elections. The Republican leaders have ambitious plans to reshape the political agenda as the new majority party in Washington. The decisive moves earned Boehner plaudits from party leaders, who are anxious to start the new congressional term in a position of strength in order to fully exploit their gains in the midterm elections. The Republican leaders have ambitious plans to reshape the political agenda as the new majority party in Washington.
“In the last 24 hours, Boehner has twice demonstrated how he is taking charge,” said Karl Rove, who was an adviser to former President George W. Bush. Rove credited Boehner with examining the Scalise and Grimm situations independently, and moving quickly. “Both incidents shows Boehner capable of leading with both caution and conviction,” he said. “In the last 24 hours, Boehner has twice demonstrated how he is taking charge,” said Karl Rove, who was an adviser to President George W. Bush. Rove credited Boehner with examining the Scalise and Grimm situations independently and moving quickly. “Both incidents show Boehner is capable of leading with both caution and conviction,” he said.
In a flurry of phone calls late Monday into Tuesday, Scalise reassured his colleagues that he had been oblivious to the racist and anti-Semitic associations of the group when he addressed it in 2002 as a state legislator. In a statement, he called his appearance “a mistake I regret,” emphasizing that it was only to promote his tax-cutting agenda as a Louisiana state representative.In a flurry of phone calls late Monday into Tuesday, Scalise reassured his colleagues that he had been oblivious to the racist and anti-Semitic associations of the group when he addressed it in 2002 as a state legislator. In a statement, he called his appearance “a mistake I regret,” emphasizing that it was only to promote his tax-cutting agenda as a Louisiana state representative.
“As a Catholic, these groups hold views that are vehemently opposed to my own personal faith, and I reject that kind of hateful bigotry,” he said. “Those who know me best know I have always been passionate about helping, serving, and fighting for every family that I represent. And I will continue to do so.”“As a Catholic, these groups hold views that are vehemently opposed to my own personal faith, and I reject that kind of hateful bigotry,” he said. “Those who know me best know I have always been passionate about helping, serving, and fighting for every family that I represent. And I will continue to do so.”
In his statement, Boehner called Scalise “a man of high integrity and good character” and said he “has my full confidence as our Whip.”In his statement, Boehner called Scalise “a man of high integrity and good character” and said he “has my full confidence as our Whip.”
Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), the incoming chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, also defended Scalise. Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), the incoming chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, also defended Scalise.
“I was a chief of staff for a governor and I saw state representatives thinly staffed, if at all. They’re young and eager,” he said. “It sounds like something he shouldn’t have done, but if that’s all there is to it, it’s time to move on and tackle bigger, more important things.” “I was a chief of staff for a governor, and I saw state representatives thinly staffed, if at all. They’re young and eager,” he said. “It sounds like something he shouldn’t have done, but if that’s all there is to it, it’s time to move on and tackle bigger, more important things.”
But cracks in support were evident elsewhere as conservative activists and more mainstream operatives fretted about the implications for the party ahead of the 2016 presidential campaign. Republican leaders are eager to project an image of a party that is broadening its appeal, especially to minorities.But cracks in support were evident elsewhere as conservative activists and more mainstream operatives fretted about the implications for the party ahead of the 2016 presidential campaign. Republican leaders are eager to project an image of a party that is broadening its appeal, especially to minorities.
“It’s always a step forward and two or three steps backward with this kind of stuff. We’ve got to get beyond that,” said Michael Steele, a former Maryland lieutenant governor and chairman of the Republican National Committee. “It’s always a step forward and two or three steps backward with this kind of stuff. We’ve got to get beyond that,” said Michael Steele, former Maryland lieutenant governor and past chairman of the Republican National Committee.
One of his party’s most prominent black members, Steele suggested that Scalise might have to relinquish his leadership position just as then-Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) did in 2002 after making laudatory comments about Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.), a former segregationist. One of his party’s most prominent black members, Steele suggested that Scalise might have to relinquish his leadership position, just as then-Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) did in 2002 after making laudatory comments about Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.), who was a former segregationist.
John Weaver, a GOP consultant who advised the presidential campaigns of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), said in an e-mail that Scalise “cannot serve in leadership in our party as we’re in the process of trying to show the American people we can handle the burden of governing, especially in a country so divided across all demographic lines.”John Weaver, a GOP consultant who advised the presidential campaigns of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), said in an e-mail that Scalise “cannot serve in leadership in our party as we’re in the process of trying to show the American people we can handle the burden of governing, especially in a country so divided across all demographic lines.”
Democrats seized on the controversy, but stopped short of calling for Scalise’s ouster. Democrats seized on the controversy but stopped short of calling for Scalise’s ouster.
A spokesman for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called the incident “deeply troubling” and used it as a way to fault House Republicans for failing to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act. A spokesman for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called the incident “deeply troubling” and used it as a way to fault House Republicans for not reauthorizing the Voting Rights Act.
The House Democratic campaign arm, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, blasted Scalise and said that “Republicans are off to a banner start for their new Congress – on the path to break their own record for least popular Congress in history.” The House Democratic campaign arm, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, blasted Scalise and said that “Republicans are off to a banner start for their new Congress — on the path to break their own record for least popular Congress in history.”
But a wider Democratic pile-on appeared to be thwarted in part by Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.), the only black Louisiana Democrat in Congress. But a wider Democratic pile-on appeared to be thwarted in part by Rep. Cedric L. Richmond (D-La.), the only black Louisiana Democrat in Congress.
“I don’t think Steve Scalise has a racist bone in his body,” Richmond told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. “Steve and I have worked on issues that benefit poor people, black people, white people, Jewish people. I know his character.”“I don’t think Steve Scalise has a racist bone in his body,” Richmond told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. “Steve and I have worked on issues that benefit poor people, black people, white people, Jewish people. I know his character.”
Richmond added that he wasn’t going to let partisan critics “use Steve as a scapegoat to score political points when I know him and know his family.” Richmond added that he was not going to let partisan critics “use Steve as a scapegoat to score political points when I know him and know his family.”
Other Republicans said that Scalise’s admission was more of a media-driven affair. Other Republicans said Scalise’s admission was a media-driven affair.
“This is an absurdity,” former House speaker Newt Gingrich said in an e-mail. “Twelve years ago Scalise made a mistake in judgment while giving speeches on the state budget. Among Democrats there was a dispensation for Justice Hugo Black who was an active Klan member and for [former West Virginia Sen. Robert C.] Byrd, who once led his local Klan group.” “This is an absurdity,” former House speaker Newt Gingrich said in an e-mail. “Twelve years ago Scalise made a mistake in judgment while giving speeches on the state budget. Among Democrats there was a dispensation for Justice Hugo Black, who was an active Klan member, and for [former West Virginia senator Robert C.] Byrd, who once led his local Klan group.”
Rob Maness, a former Louisiana GOP Senate candidate, said Scalise was suffering from “an orchestrated attack designed to distract attention away from the issues Congress should be focusing on, such as fighting back against President Obama’s executive amnesty.”Rob Maness, a former Louisiana GOP Senate candidate, said Scalise was suffering from “an orchestrated attack designed to distract attention away from the issues Congress should be focusing on, such as fighting back against President Obama’s executive amnesty.”
Grimm’s announcement that he will resign next Monday ended months of controversy for the lawmaker, a former FBI agent who was once considered a star GOP recruit. He left the prominent Financial Services Committee last spring after federal prosecutors unveiled a 20-count indictment, but he refused to resign and won reelection for a third term in November despite the controversy. Grimm’s announcement that he will resign this coming Monday ended months of controversy for the lawmaker, a former FBI agent who was once considered a star GOP recruit. He left the House Financial Services Committee in the spring after federal prosecutors unveiled a 20-count indictment, but he refused to resign and won reelection for a third term in November despite the controversy.
But after pleading guilty last week, Grimm announced plans to resign late Monday after speaking with Boehner, who urged him to give up his office, according to associates familiar with their telephone call. But after pleading guilty last week, Grimm announced late Monday that he plans to resign. The announcement came after he spoke with Boehner, who urged him to give up his office, according to associates familiar with their telephone call.
Aides said the moves demonstrated how quickly Boehner addresses what they called “member management” issues, including past legal or ethical lapses by former Reps. Trey Radel (R-Fla.), Christopher Lee (R-N.Y.) and Mark Souder (R-Ind.) and outgoing Rep. Vance McAllister (R-La.). Aides said Boehner’s moves exhibit a sharp contrast with Democrats, who they argued have not moved as forcefully to address members with legal or ethical issues, including former Rep. William Jefferson (R-La.) and Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.). Aides said the moves demonstrated how quickly Boehner addresses what they called “member management” issues, including past legal or ethical lapses by then-Reps. Trey Radel (R-Fla.), Christopher Lee (R-N.Y.) and Mark Souder (R-Ind.) and the outgoing Rep. Vance McAllister (R-La.). Aides said Boehner’s moves exhibit a sharp contrast with Democrats, who they argued have not moved as forcefully to address members with legal or ethical issues, including former congressman William Jefferson (R-La.) and Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.).
Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), a Boehner ally and senior member of the appropriations committee, said the latest incidents should sustain support for the speaker when he’s reelected as House leader next week. Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), a Boehner ally and senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, said the latest incidents should sustain support for the speaker when he’s reelected as House leader next week.
“There are always malcontents and they may vote against Boehner. I expect a few scattered ‘no’ votes. But because Boehner has been strengthened by the gains in the election, the speaker election should mostly be an uneventful coronation,” he said.“There are always malcontents and they may vote against Boehner. I expect a few scattered ‘no’ votes. But because Boehner has been strengthened by the gains in the election, the speaker election should mostly be an uneventful coronation,” he said.
Dan Balz contributed to this report.Dan Balz contributed to this report.