There was an interesting development in the Rep. Maxine Waters ethics trial last Friday: the charges were abruptly sent back to Ethics’ investigative subcommittee for review… and ‘mum’ was, as they say, the word as to why.  Oh, Rep. Waters immediately claimed vindication – which she would probably do if they were loading her onto a tumbrel – but there hasn’t been much chatter about this.  There may not be for a while, assuming that more details of the story don’t break today.

However, there is one aforementioned detail, courtesy of the NYT, courtesy of Contentions: apparently the charges are being reviewed because of a new set of emails, which purportedly “show that [Rep. Waters’ chief of staff Mikael] Moore[*] was actively engaged in discussing with committee members details of a bank bailout bill apparently after Ms. Waters agreed to refrain from advocating on the bank’s behalf.”  Again, Rep. Waters’ staff is claiming that said emails actually will vindicate her; again, that’s pretty much what they’d say any which way.  Right now, about the only consensus is that it’s unlikely that the Waters trial will actually take place during the 111th Congress.

Which is interesting, because it’s not like the Democrats were going to do anything to the woman except (at most) censure her anyway.  This should not be a surprise, of course: the 111th Congress has not exactly been a paragon of ethical behavior and fiscal responsibility.

Moe Lane (crosspost)

PS: Ed’s back for the moment over at Hot Air, with a thought that this might end up splattering all over the Finance Committee.  And wouldn’t that be a fun way to start the 112th Congress…

[*And grandson.]