Quiz: Which N.H. Congressman Named Most Corrupt?
by: William Tucker
Tue Sep 20, 2011 at 06:00:00 AM EDT
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They both were! That's right. Charlie Bass and Frank Guinta were named two of the most corrupt members of Congress by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). CREW's annual report on congressional corruption identifies 14 members whose actions violated the law or who otherwise engaged in serious misconduct. Both of the Granite State's Republican congressmen made the select list.
Rep. Frank Guinta (R-NH) fudged the numbers and cooked the books to buy a seat in Congress. Beginning in 2009, Rep. Guinta made several shady loans to his campaign committee, claiming the money was his own despite an income that seemed to preclude that possibility. ...
"It is impossible to believe Rep. Guinta simply 'forgot' about a bank account with over $250,000 - by far his largest asset. He's not exactly Bill Gates," said [CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan]. "It just goes to show, there's really no line Rep Guinta won't cross to land a seat in Congress."
Politics is a family affair for Rep. Charles "Charlie" Bass (R-NH), who abused his office to seek preferential treatment for his nephew's business New England Wood Pellet (NEWP), a New Hampshire-based company that produces wood pellet fuel for use in heating systems. Rep. Bass also appears to have lied on his personal financial disclosure forms about his interest in the company. ...
"Members of Congress should be working on behalf of their constituents not themselves or their family members. It seems some members really are just out for themselves," said Ms. Sloan. "This is exactly the kind of thing that makes Americans believe members of Congress are just out for themselves."
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