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House Republicans move to contain fallout from Scalise, Grimm controversies House Republicans move to contain fallout from Scalise, Grimm controversies
(about 2 hours later)
Congressional Republican leaders moved 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. Republican leaders moved forcefully on Tuesday to control the damage from a pair of scandals that have suddenly disrupted the party as it prepares to 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) pushed out Rep. Michael G. Grimm (R-N.Y.), who pleaded guilty last week to federal tax-evasion charges, and backed Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) who acknowledged that he once addressed a white-supremacist group before coming to Capitol Hill.
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.” Some Republicans praised Boehner for his actions, expressing their eagerness to start the new Congress in a position of strength to fully exploit their gains in the midterm elections. But others worried about the potential political fallout from a fresh racial controversy for a party anxious to show its broadening appeal to minorities ahead of the 2016 presidential election.
Earlier, he had tersely thanked Grimm for his service, saying that his resignation was “the honorable decision.” 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.”
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. The twin controversies could also derail the carefully laid plans of Boehner and incoming Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to shape the party’s message and Washington’s political agenda in the coming weeks. The Republican leaders are poised to make final decisions by Friday about which legislation to hold votes on in the early days of the new Congress. The Senate is expected to focus on bills related to energy policy, while the House is most likely to focus on general economic and job-creating proposals.
“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. Some Republicans also are hoping to focus on immigration and border security policy, a fight that Democrats have been preparing for since President Obama’s executive order delaying deportation for many immigrants. A controversy involving race could complicate Republican bargaining power.
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.” Hoping to quickly put the scandal behind him, Boehner defended Scalise on Tuesday, saying the Louisiana Republican had his “full confidence.” He added that Scalise “made an error in judgment, and he was right to acknowledge it was wrong and inappropriate.” He called Scalise “a man of high integrity and good character.”
Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), the incoming chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, also defended Scalise. Boehner took the opposite approach with Grimm, urging him to step down and then tersely thanking him Tuesday for his service, calling his resignation “the honorable decision.”
“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.” “In the last 24 hours, Boehner has twice demonstrated how he is taking charge,” said Karl Rove, an adviser to President George W. Bush. “Both incidents show Boehner is capable of leading with both caution and conviction.”
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 Grimm’s resignation could mean a fresh headache for Republicans if Democrats win the seat, which is a possibility in a district where Obama captured 52 percent of the vote in 2012.
It will be up to a Democrat, New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, to decide whether to hold a special election to replace Grimm. Republican Daniel M. Donovan Jr., the district attorney for Richmond County, has been mentioned by New York politicos as a possible candidate. Democrats mentioned include Michael Cusick, a state assemblyman, and former congressman Michael E. McMahon.
Grimm’s announcement that he will resign this coming Monday ended months of controversy for the lawmaker, a former FBI agent once considered a star GOP recruit. He left the powerful 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 his troubles.
Grimm made up his mind to resign after he spoke with Boehner, who urged him to give up his office, according to associates familiar with their telephone call.
Conservative activists and more mainstream operatives were more worried about the Scalise controversy, fretting about the implications for the party’s image.
“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.“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.), who was 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.” “How Do You Show Up at a David Duke Event and Not Know What It Is?” Erick Erickson, a widely followed radio talk-show host and conservative blogger, said in a Twitter message.
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 not reauthorizing 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 and for joining lawsuits challenging Obama’s recent executive actions to change immigration policy.
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.” A wider Democratic pile-on appeared to be thwarted in part by Rep. Cedric L. Richmond, 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 was not 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 Scalise’s admission was a media-driven affair. Other Republicans said Scalise’s troubles were 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 senator 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.” Scalise declined all interview requests and spent Tuesday at his suburban New Orleans home. Aides said he had spoken with Boehner by telephone Monday and was in touch with Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), with whom he has a closer relationship.
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. “Our focus remains on the job — that’s not going to change,” said a senior congressional GOP aide who was not authorized to comment publicly about ongoing planning and spoke on the condition of anonymity. “We’re not going to let these cyclical member management issues to get in the way of focusing on the American people’s priorities.”
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 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 House Appropriations Committee, said the latest incidents should sustain support for the speaker when he is reelected as House leader next week.
“There are always malcontents, and they may vote against Boehner,” Cole said. “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.”
Dan Balz contributed to this report.Dan Balz contributed to this report.