What’s He Hiding: Kent Conrad Angry At Republican For Daring To Investigate The Countrywide Scandal
Shame on this Republican for not leaving the investigation of the scandal up to the Democrat-run Senate Ethics Committee!
Apparently, Senator Conrad thinks he’s above suspicion. And why wouldn’t he? After all, the media back here in North Dakota certainly thinks so.
Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) lashed out at Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) after the Republican congressman pushed the powerful Democratic senator to divulge details about low-interest loans he received from Countrywide Financial.
In letters provided to POLITICO, Conrad has accused Issa of attempting to impugn his name in a GOP inquiry into the Countrywide mortgage scandal. Conrad said that the Senate Ethics Committee is the “appropriate forum to resolve this matter,” not Issa’s Republican staff on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
“It is unfortunate that you chose to damage my good name in your report without giving me the opportunity to provide my side of the story,” Conrad said in the sharply worded Aug. 3 letter. “But that damage has been done. I now have the opportunity to present my case before the Senate Ethics Committee, a fundamental right you denied me.”
“Shame on you for abusing your power,” Conrad said.
In response, Frederick Hill, communications director for the GOP staff on the committee, said: “Sen. Conrad’s whining doesn’t change the seriousness of the situation or the need for a full investigation of the Countrywide VIP program.”
Hill said the scope of the investigation goes “far beyond” the jurisdiction of the Senate Ethics Committee and is looking at Countrywide’s conduct in its program.
If Senator Conrad is so certain of his innocence, then what’s he got against another Congressional committee looking into the matter? After all, according to earlier comments, Senator Conrad was looking forward to cooperating fully with investigators.
Apparently he’s only willing to cooperate with the right investigators.
