House Leaders See Need for Ethics Process

By ERICA WERNER
The Associated Press

Snip

Copley News Service reported Sunday that Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif., who sits on the powerful Appropriations defense subcommittee, sold his home in 2003 to a defense contractor who took a $700,000 loss.

Around the same time, the contractor's company, MZM Inc., reportedly began getting large government contracts.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., told reporters Wednesday he'd seen the allegations and that's why the committee was needed. "We need to get the ethics committee up and running," he said.

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the Cunningham deal raised questions. Immediately after buying the house, contractor Mitchell Wade reportedly put it back on the market for nearly the same price, finally selling it nine months later at a $700,000 loss.

Another repub in trouble.

Semper Fi