WAFB Channel 9, Baton Rouge, LA |Prostitution complaint filed against Vitter

Prostitution complaint filed against Vitter

By David Spunt - email

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WAFB) - A non-partisan group out of Washington, D.C. says it wants to strip the law license of Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana because he allegedly took part in a prostitution ring.

The director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) said it is time for Vitter to step up to the plate and answer for accusations stemming from the "D.C. Madam Scandal." In 2007, Vitter's name appeared on the client list of D.C. Madam Deborah Jeane Palfrey. According to CREW, Vitter's law license should be revoked for allegedly violating the state's rules of professional conduct for lawyers.

"Since that's a crime and Louisiana rules provide that committing any crime is a subject matter appropriate for discipline, we thought it was time for the Louisiana bar to take a look at Mr. Vitter's conduct," said Melanie Sloan, executive director of CREW.

Sloan filed the complaint with the Louisiana Office of Disciplinary Counsel, a part of the Louisiana State Supreme Court. She said CREW filed the complaint because of Vitter's stance against the group ACORN. The grassroots group came under fire earlier this month after an employee was caught on camera offering advice to a woman posing as a prostitute.

"This is his weak point," said political analyst Clay Young. Any story that involves him and his past indiscretions is a sore spot."

Young said the CREW complaint will hurt Vitter, especially in his re-election campaign for 2010.

"I'm thinking he's probably more concerned about losing the Senate seat than he is losing the law license," Young said.

Vitter's office responded with a statement from spokesman Joel DiGrado.

"ACORN has been under investigation for a series of felony criminal offenses - most prominently voter fraud.  It's no surprise that CREW, an organization run by a former Democratic Senate staffer, is trying to do anything possible to shift the light off the fact that ACORN has stood hand in hand with the Democratic Party for a long time as it misused taxpayer dollars."

Digrado referred to Melanie Sloan, who formerly worked for a Democratic member of Congress. The Louisiana Office of Disciplinary Counsel declined comment on the matter.

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