Here’s hoping that an ethics complaint is immediately filed against Harry Reid, whose office still won’t admit that he breached ethics restrictions by taking free boxing tickets while legislation on regulation the sport was pending before the Senate – but then vows that he won’t do it again.

Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid learned that what happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas after all. A day after The Associated Press reported Reid accepted free ringside seats to boxing matches from a Nevada agency trying to influence him on federal boxing legislation, the senator offered his own ethics justification to a home state audience in Las Vegas.

And he vowed to keep taking such gifts.

But Reid's comments Tuesday quickly reached Washington, where several ethics experts concluded the Senate leader had misstated the Senate rules to his constituents.

Within hours of being questioned by AP about the ethics experts' assertions, Reid's office abruptly reversed course and acknowledged Wednesday night he had misspoken about the ethics rules.

The Senate leader also has decided not to take free boxing seats in the future even though he still believes it was ethical to do so in 2004 and 2005, Reid's office said.

"In light of questions that have been raised about the practice, Senator Reid will not accept these kinds of credentials in the future in order to avoid even the faintest appearance of impropriety," spokesman Jim Manley said.

Interestingly enough, it appears that prior to becoming the Democrat leader in the Senate, Reid always paid for his boxing tickets – and accepted none free until there was pending legislation on possible federal regulation of boxing. Even if one concedes that there was no actual quid pro quo or actual violation of the Senate ethics regulations, this action does breach the catch-all regulation that requires Senators not act in a manner that gives the appearance of impropriety.

And this certainly does appear improper.

And I like this comment from the spokesperson for a watchdog group.

Ellen Miller, head of the Sunlight Foundation, a nonpartisan group studying the ethics and inner workings of Congress, said Reid's comments in Las Vegas should make voters suspicious.

"Any time a politician starts parsing language and telling different stories, you have to assume they may have something to be ashamed of," Miller said.

And to all you Democrats out there – would you accept such conduct or rationalizations from a Republican?

Posted by: Greg at 05:09 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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