ABSTRACT
One problem that has plagued scholars and members of Congress alike involves the extent to which the politicization of the ethics process can destroy otherwise productive members of Congress. The Senate Ethics Committee ruled that despite the gift ban, the Clinton Legal Expense Fund may continue to accept individual contributions as high as $10,000 to pay the legal expenses incurred by Sen. In 1997, the ethics panel found "credible evidence" that Rep. Barbara Rose-Collins committed eleven violations of ethics rules, including using campaign funds for personal items, but it took no action against the retiring lawmaker because voters had already removed her from office. The Ethics Committee issued a "letter of reproval" to Shuster that concluded: "By your actions you have brought discredit to the House of Representatives". The congressional ethics process is unlikely to be: strengthened without a public demand for change.
