Ethics complaint filed against Senator Vitter for soliciting hooker

Senate leader wants 'airing' of Vitter scandal

{Be careful what you ask for in the case! Airing may be more than you can stand seeing a grown KHRISTIAN HYPOCRITE GOP Man drop his diaper!}

By Bill Walsh and Bruce Alpert


The Democratic leader in the Senate said Tuesday the call-girl scandal that has engulfed Sen. David Vitter, R-La., should have "a full airing" and noted that there is an open criminal investigation into the escort service that Vitter acknowledged calling.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., made his comments on the day that Vitter returned to Capitol Hill after a week-long hiatus prompted by his public admission that his number appeared on the phone records of the "D.C. Madam."

Reid stopped short of calling for an ethics committee investigation of the freshman senator and is not likely to, preferring to let the scandal play out on its own.

"I think this should have a full airing," Reid said. "There are a lot of accusations about prostitutes here in Washington, prostitutes in Louisiana. I don't know if that's breaking the law or not. It's obvious that it all came about as someone who's being charged with a crime here in Washington, D.C."

Reid and Vitter sparred last month during debates over the immigration reform proposals.

Vitter's number appeared at least five times between 1999 and 2001 on billing records belonging to Deborah Jeane Palfrey, who has been charged with racketeering for allegedly running a prostitution ring in the nation's capital. Palfrey, whose business netted her $2 million over 13 years, said she ran a legitimate enterprise.

Vitter has said he committed "a very serious sin," but not admitted to any criminal wrong-doing. After a week out of the public eye, Vitter resurfaced on Monday in Louisiana at a press conference with his wife Wendy at his side. He again apologized for "actions in my past" and called stories circulating around New Orleans in the past week "falsehoods." He declined to provide specifics but was apparently referring to reports that he was also a client at a New Orleans brothel in the mid-1990s.

Back on Capitol Hill, Vitter kept a low profile as reporters pressed him for details about his connection to the escort service.

Pursued by the media as he left a Commerce Committee hearing on rural airports Tuesday morning, Vitter stopped and faced the reporters and cameras in hallway. Buffeted by questions, Vitter said that he and his wife made "very straightforward statements about all of this" the day before and wouldn't say anything more.

"And I look forward today to being back at work, really focused on a lot of important issues for the people of Louisiana, like we were discussing in the committee hearing," he said before turning and walking away, ignoring the reporters' questions.

Vitter, who like most members usually makes his way between Senate office buildings and the Capitol on foot, then exited and stepped into a white Isuzu Rodeo and was driven away.

For much of the day, Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., a friend and fellow social conservative helped shield Vitter from reporters and photographers - all assigned to capture Vitter's first day back to the Capitol.

Coburn, a physician, escorted Vitter into the weekly Republican policy luncheon through a back door, and then, after the lunch, past waiting reporters and onto the Senate floor, which is off limits to the media.

Vitter made a brief statement to his Republican colleagues at the luncheon, reportedly reiterating the comments he made in Louisiana. Applause could be heard inside the room. Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., who like most members wouldn't disclose what Vitter said, reported that his comments went over well.

"People were very supportive," Thune said. "People realize he has worked through this this past week. I think everybody is ready to move forward."

Vitter's Louisiana Senate colleague, Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., with whom he has feuded regularly since coming to the Senate two years ago, declined to comment Tuesday. Landrieu said she hasn't spoken to Vitter regarding the allegations because he "hasn't reached out to me," but hopes to meet with him soon.

Vitter's Republican Senate colleagues generally praised him for taking responsibility and making amends with his wife. Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., said he was "really impressed" with Wendy Vitter, who at Monday's press conference said her husband was her best friend.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, exemplified the forgive-and-forget view voiced by Senate Republicans.

"My attitude is he's doing everything he can to rectify the mistake he made and should be allowed to do so," Hatch said. "I'm a great believer in redemption."

The senators turned skittish, however, when asked by reporters if they were concerned that Vitter may have broken the law. Solicitation for prostitution is a misdemeanor although it's probably too late to prosecute a 2001 offense. The statute of limitations in Washington, D.C., is three years and two years in Louisiana.

"That is not my area," said Hatch, who served for years as the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee where he was responsible for confirming judges and writing criminal laws.

"I don't know what the law is," Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., a former federal prosecutor, said tersely before walking away.

"I'm not an expert in prostitution law, I'm pleased to say," Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said.

Vitter's first vote since returning the Capitol was on an amendment to the defense policy bill. The proposal by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Tex., declared that it is not in the national security interests of the United States for Iraq to become a failed state and haven for terrorists. Vitter voted yes and it passed 94-3.

Speaking to reporters by phone from an economic development trip to London, Gov. Kathleen Blanco reiterated concerns she voiced last week that the call-girl scandal could impinge on hurricane recovery.

"I hope that we'll work together, we have to work together for our recovery," Blanco said. "I'm not certain what the reaction is going to be in Washington. We're going to have to see how that works out."

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