N.Y. Lawmaker Leaves Ethics Panel
Rep. Gary L. Ackerman (D-N.Y.), who is under preliminary investigation for allegedly leaking to the news media a list of the top abusers of the House bank, resigned Tuesday from the House Ethics Committee.
Ackerman sent a one-sentence letter to Speaker Thomas S. Foley (D-Wash.) stating that he was stepping down as a member the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, as the ethics panel is officially known. The letter gave no reason for his decision. Neither Ackerman nor his press secretary could be reached for comment.
Reps. Edward F. Feighan (D-Ohio) and Charles A. Hayes (D-Ill.) had asked Rep. Louis Stokes (D-Ohio), the committee chairman, to investigate Ackerman’s conduct in the probe of overdrafts at the now-closed House bank. They charged that he had revealed the names of the top abusers of the bank to several news organizations on March 14.
Ackerman has said that he obtained the list that day by calling the committee’s office. However, he has denied leaking the information to the news media.
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