The CIA interrogation controversy is only the latest in a series of scandals under House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) reign, and it’s now time for the multiple ethics issues to be resolved, said House Republican Conference Secretary John Carter (R-TX) tonight during a series of floor speeches with fellow Congressmen Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Louie Gohmert (R-TX).

Judge Carter said rather than building the “most honest, most open, and most ethical” Congress in history as promised in 2006, the Speaker “has been a stumbling block to resolving these issues.” Carter, a former Texas judge, listed the multiple ethics violations and scandals since Democrats took the majority in 2006, including the ongoing ethics investigation of House Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel, and the unaddressed tax violations of U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner.

Carter said the current controversy between Speaker Pelosi and the CIA must be resolved for the American public to have confidence in their government. “I don’t like the word liar and I’m not going to use it,” said Carter. “But either Ms. Pelosi is not telling the truth, or the CIA is not telling the truth, and this issue must be resolved. (Speaker Pelosi) stands in line to be the unelected President of the United States.”

Congressman Mark Kirk said that if the CIA did lie to Congress as Pelosi alleged, that act constitutes a felony, and should be prosecuted. “Lying to Congress is a felony, and if it occurred, we should press charges and demand a trial, then let the cards fall where they may.” 

Congressman Louie Gohmert pointed out that either Democrats are lying or they forgot what they promised the American people. “Democrats made clear statements on what ethical standards should be enacted in the House while Republicans were still in the majority,” said Gohmert, “including promises on fair debate and amendments on legislation, with the minority allowed input on all bills. Maybe they just forget that they kept making these promises in 2006 and 2008.”

Carter said that Congress should be responsible for policing itself, rather than ignoring the tough ethical issues and stalling until another election cycle. “Truth and honesty is a goal we set for ourselves as a nation,” Carter said. “Lets resolve these issues. We could resolve them at the ballot box, but there should be more pride in this institution than that.”