Texas Dem under fire for nepotism

Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson has steered thousands in scholarship dollars to relatives and the children of top aides, a Texas newspaper reported today.

The Dallas Democrat, a nine-term member of the House, awarded 15 Congressional Black Caucus scholarships to her grandchildren and great-nephew, among others, The Dallas Morning News reported Sunday.

The CBC, which Johnson once chaired, has anti-nepotism rules that prevent directing funds to caucus members' relatives. Furthermore, the scholarship recipients live outside her Dallas district, another violation of the caucus’ rules.

Johnson first skirted the question of favoritism when asked by The Dallas Morning News. Days later she issued a statement saying she “unknowingly” violated the rules and said she would work to “rectify the financial situation.”

This is just the latest in bad news for black members of Congress. Several CBC members have been under investigation in the past year — most visibly Reps. Charles Rangel of New York and Maxine Waters of California, who are both in the middle of high-profile ethics committee trials.

Democrats have been dogged by ethical missteps in recent months but say the process by which Congress polices its members is working.

The National Republican Congressional Committee blasted Johnson on Sunday morning, again recalling House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s 2006 pledge to "drain the swamp" in Washington. The NRCC called it “The Democrats’ New Friends and Family Plan.”