Facing investigation, Rep. Lewis axes investigators

While many of us are hoping for a change in leadership after the November elections, it's important to note that the GOP is taking advantage of every day they have to keep things running the way they have since the "Republican Revolution" of the nineties. And it's as ugly as ever. Today that task fell to House Appropriations chair Jerry Lewis-- currently under investigation for enriching his family with lobbyist dollars.

This evening, Congressional Quarterly reports (sub. req.) that in a round of calls Monday evening, Lewis fired 60 investigators who had worked for his committee rooting out fraud, waste and abuse, effective immediately. As in, don't bother coming in on Tuesday.

The investigators were contract workers, brought on to handle the extraordinary level of fraud investigations facing the panel. Sixteen permanent investigative staff are staying on, according to CQ. More:

Lewis’ decision “has in fact stalled all of the investigations on the staff,” said one of the contractors, a former FBI agent, who asked not to be identified. “This eviscerates the investigatory function. There is little if any ability to do any oversight now.” (. . .).

“In effect, no investigative function is going to be done,” said the contractor, who called the decision “misguided.”