Quotes by Melanie Sloan

“This is a big deal,”

“The way that theyve presented it makes it look more independent than it in fact is, and thats misleading.”

“An indictment is just the first step in the ever-evolving scandal involving Abramoff and the GOP Leadership. Now, Rep. Ney has some explaining to do. Given that Rep. Ney knew enough about SunCruz, Adam Kidan and Gus Boulis to insert comments about them in the Congressional Record, the House ethics committee should find out what else Rep. Ney knew about Abramoffs illegal activities.”

“[The timing thus raised questions about whether Frist had somehow traded on information he obtained in advance from the company.] Frist has been in the Senate for many years now, and the conflict is not new, ... Why did he decide to sell it then? Why not years ago? Whats changed? Did he know that the stock was about to take a fall?”

“They all violated ethics rules.”

“[Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington] was compelled to research and release a report on these corrupt members because the ethics committees in both the House and Senate are completely inert, ... The report calls for the House and Senate to act to investigate and take appropriate action against them for these violations of the rules.”

“It is outrageous that outsiders cant file complaints, since Congress has demonstrated its unwillingness to police its own conduct.”

“It doesnt seem to me that someone should get a tax deduction while theyre writing public relations memos about how people should be able to smoke in restaurants.”

“It is time for our representatives to take their constitutional obligation to police themselves seriously, an obligation that members of both political parties have ignored to the detriment of the American people.”

“Why did Sen. Frist suddenly decide to sell the stock in June after holding the stock for so long? Also, did the Senator order the sale based on insider knowledge that the value of the stock was about to decline precipitously?”