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Corruption Chronicles House Leaders Allegedly Attempt to Bribe Congressman for Vote Did Congressional Republicans offer favors and issue threats to fellow colleagues in order to manipulate votes on the president's Medicare prescription drug bill? According to Michigan Congressman Nick Smith the answer is an emphatic, "yes," The Washington Post reports. Congressman Smith told a group of 20 fiscal conservatives at a meeting just prior to the vote, that House Republican leaders had told him they would provide $100,000 to Smith's son, who will campaign for his father's seat this year, if the Michigan Congressman voted "yes" on the president's Medicare prescription drug bill. When Smith refused, he claims Members of Congress threatened to work against his son in retaliation. "If true, this is yet another example of why Judicial Watch is so important," said JW President Tom Fitton. "How can Members of Congress be trusted to police their own affairs, when they are clearly engaging in unethical behavior themselves?" A federal statute bars the offer or promise of anything of value for a decision or action pending before a public official. SIDEBAR At a November 21 meeting of approximately 20 fiscal conservatives opposed to President Bush's Medicare prescription drug bill, one Member of Congress told the others that a "home-state politician had insinuated that he would run against him in the next primary unless the lawmaker voted for the bill." -- The Washington Post.
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