Reid asked to recuse himself in ethics case

Erin Neff

Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2002 | 10:52 a.m.

Several watchdog groups are asking Sen. Harry Reid to recuse himself from an ethics case involving fellow Democratic Sen. Robert Torricelli because Reid donated money to the New Jersey senator's defense fund.

Reid's spokesman, Nathan Naylor, said today the senator will not comment on any matter pending before the Senate Ethics Commission.

The U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan has turned over some evidence from a federal inquiry into Torricelli's fund raising to the Senate Ethics Commission, which Reid chairs.

Federal officials closed a criminal investigation into the matter last week without filing charges against Torricelli.

David Chang, a commodities broker, has pleaded guilty to making illegal donations to Torricelli's 1986 campaign. Chang said he gave Torricelli gifts including an $8,100 Rolex watch and a large-screen television.

Common Cause, a government watchdog group, wrote a letter Tuesday to the Senate Ethics Committee asking it to name an outside counsel to conduct the inquiry into Torricelli. The group also asked Reid to recuse himself from the case because he donated $500 to Torricelli's defense fund and had agreed to help Torricelli with a June fund-raiser.

The Center for Public Integrity and Judicial Watch have also called on Reid to recuse himself.

The Senate Ethics Committee has six members. Reid and vice chairman Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., will decide whether to proceed with the ethics case against Torricelli.