Durenberger Asks Panel’s Compassion : Congress: Senator makes emotional plea to Ethics Committee, says ‘life and reputation’ are at stake.

Sen. Dave Durenberger made an emotional plea to the Senate Ethics Committee today, saying his “life and reputation” are at stake and asking for compassion in their judgment of his financial dealings.

In an intensely personal statement, the Minnesota Republican said repeatedly that he was “deeply sorry” for financial deals that he admitted violated Senate rules.

The committee’s special counsel, Robert Bennett, recommended Tuesday that the Senate publicly denounce Durenberger for “reprehensible” actions that brought “dishonor and disrepute” on the Senate.

“His conduct was clearly and unequivocally unethical,” Bennett told the committee after describing allegations that Durenberger broke Senate rules and federal law through a book promotion deal and transactions involving his Minneapolis condominium.

Durenberger, sitting between his lawyer and an aide, appeared stunned Tuesday when Bennett made his surprise recommendation on the first day of trial-like hearings. Durenberger told reporters afterward that the penalty was “harsher than warranted.”

Durenberger made no reference to the proposed sanction in a 13-page statement prepared for the committee today. Repeating four times that he was sorry for his actions, Durenberger described how he had thrown himself into his work because of the emotional trauma from his first wife’s death and the “daunting challenge” of raising four young sons.

“My life and reputation are at stake, and I believe each of you will combine both good judgment and compassion in your decision,” Durenberger said.

Durenberger said he would not challenge the committee’s recommended punishment, but he appeared to rule out resigning from the Senate. “When this is done, I intend to serve this body and my home state with a renewed conviction to exemplify the servant in public service,” he said.

His attorney, Jim Hamilton, told the panel Tuesday that Durenberger “feels that some sanction is appropriate because he was inattentive and unwise.” But Hamilton said denouncement by the Senate was a “Draconian sanction.”