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A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Naomi Seligman 202.408.5565

CREW Releases Fourth Annual Most Corrupt Members of Congress Report

WASHINGTON

Today, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW)
released its fourth annual report on the most corrupt members of
Congress.

CREW's Most Corrupt Members of Congress
provides a detailed analysis of the unethical and sometimes illegal
activities of 24 congressmen and women who have most egregiously
betrayed the public's trust.

CREW also has launched the report's tandem website, www.CREWsMostCorrupt.org,
which offers short summaries of each member's transgressions as well as
the full-length profiles and all accompanying exhibits.

New to this year's study are Reps. Marsha Blackburn, Vern Buchanan,
Vito Fossella, Dan Lipinski, Charlie Rangel, Laura Richardson and Mike
Turner, and Sens. Mary Landrieu and Norm Coleman.

Of this year's list of 24, at least 12 are under investigation: Ken
Calvert, John Doolittle, Tom Feeney, Vito Fossella, William Jefferson,
Jerry Lewis, Alan Mollohan, Gary Miller, Tim Murphy, Rick Renzi, Don
Young and Ted Stevens. One other, Charlie Rangel, is under a
self-initiated House ethics committee investigation.

Melanie Sloan, executive director of CREW, said today, "With soaring
gas prices, a housing market in crisis, rising unemployment, and a
nation at war, elected officials should be prioritizing their
constituents' needs over their own self-interests. Unfortunately, the
members of Congress listed in CREW's Most Corrupt report have decided
that their personal needs are paramount to those they represent. This
report holds them accountable for those choices."

The 20 most corrupt Members of Congress

Dishonorable mentions

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting ethics and accountability in government and public life by targeting government officials -- regardless of party affiliation -- who sacrifice the common good to special interests. CREW advances its mission using a combination of research, litigation and media outreach.