Oh yes they can, and the Republican leadership has nothing to say about these felons working in Congress.
Take this Republican Representative from New York for example. Rep. Michael Grimm plead guilty to a felony charge on Tuesday, and not only is he refusing to quit the House, his leaders are ducking the issue.
Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) has declined to comment on the case, saying he is waiting to talk to Grimm. The two Republicans haven’t spoken, according to a knowledgeable aide.
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After a court appearance in Brooklyn earlier today, a defiant Grimm told reporters he had spoken to GOP leadership but had no intentions of voluntarily giving up his seat.
Like Boehner, other top House Republicans have ducked the Grimm scandal thus far. An aide to House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) had no immediate comment Tuesday. A spokesman for House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) said the No. 3 member of the Republican leadership had nothing to say.
Yet the situation will surely test the Republican leadership’s promise to hold members of Congress to the highest standards.
