After voting in favor of Tom DeLay's bid to deadlock the House Ethics Committee in January, five North Carolina Republican Members of Congress-Robin Hayes, Charles Taylor, Sue Myrick, Howard Coble, and Virginia Foxx--caved under public pressure and switched their votes last night - but only after DeLay gave them permission to do so. None has condemned DeLay for the numerous scandals that have overtaken Washington in recent months. One North Carolina Republican-Patrick McHenry--stood his ground and voted to weaken the rules for DeLay in January and stuck by that vote last night.

The vote comes amid intense scrutiny of DeLay's overseas travel and his relationship with Jack Abramoff, a lobbyist under federal investigation. DeLay was admonished three times last year by the House Ethics Committee.

Six N.C. Republicans have taken thousands of dollars from DeLay's political action committee and two have even donated to his legal defense fund.

One N.C. Member has ethical troubles of his own: Congressman Charles Taylor is no stranger to corrupt friends and shady business dealings. In January, "two former political associates of U.S. Charles Taylor were sentenced Thursday in U.S. District Court for their roles in a 1993 bank fraud case involving the congressman's Blue Ridge Savings Bank. Former Blue Ridge Savings Bank president and past Taylor campaign treasurer Hayes Martin and one-time 11th District Republican chairman Charles "Chig" Cagle each received sentences of two years probation for one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. [Hendersonville Times-News 1-28-2005] So far, the Ethics Committee and the U.S. Justice Department have failed to investigate Taylor.

No wonder Taylor wanted to weaken the Ethics Committee.

"Does integrity mean so little that these Republicans would sacrifice it for Tom DeLay?" said North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Jerry Meek. "North Carolina's working families deserve better than political cronyism and more of the same in Washington."

How tied up are N.C. Members in the DeLay scandal?

Robin Hayes:

Contributions received from DeLay's ARMPAC: $42,722

Voting percentage with DeLay: 94%

And Robin Hayes even donated $1,000 to DeLay's legal defense fund.

Charles Taylor:

Contributions received from DeLay's ARMPAC: $6,130

Voting percentage with DeLay: 94%

Sue Myrick:

Contributions received from DeLay's ARMPAC: $3,520

Voting percentage with DeLay: 94%

Howard Coble:

Voting percentage with DeLay: 90%

Virgina Foxx:

Contributions received from DeLay's ARMPAC: $10,000

Voting percentage with DeLay: 96%

Patrick McHenry:

Contributions received from DeLay's ARMPAC: $10,000

Voting percentage with DeLay: 98%

Walter Jones:

Contributions received from DeLay's ARMPAC: $ $11,373

Voting percentage with DeLay: 83%

And Walter Jones even donated $500.00 to DeLay's legal defense fund.

Contributions from ARMPAC: www.tray.com

Voting percentage: www.cq.com

Ethics votes:

H Res. 5, Roll Call #6, 1/4/2005

H. Res. 240 Roll Call #145, 4/27/2005