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Pelosi Statement on GOP Effort to Intimidate and Silence Office of Government Ethics

January 13, 2017

Contact: Drew Hammill/Caroline Behringer, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement after the Republican Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Jason Chaffetz, threatened to shut down the independent Office of Government Ethics and demanded its Director, Walter Shaub Jr., testify before his committee in a secret hearing. Director Shaub had said publically that President-elect Trump's plan for his business was "wholly inadequate" to protect the incoming president from conflicts of interest.

"House Republicans' agenda is clear: intimidate and silence anyone who would raise questions about the President-elect's vast conflicts of interest. Instead of honoring his committee's responsibility to hold the Administration accountable, Chairman Chaffetz has appointed himself President-elect Trump's chief strongman and enforcer.

"Republicans' accelerating contempt for ethics should alarm every American. After backing down from their attempt to dismantle ethics in the House of Representatives, the GOP is working to dismantle any ethics oversight of the White House.

"Yet again, we see that House Republicans will do anything to further their special interest agenda, thwart transparency and undermine the public trust."

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