Reversing course, Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid's office acknowledged Wednesday night he misstated the ethics rules governing his acceptance of free boxing tickets and has decided to avoid taking such gifts in the future.
The announcement came after The Associated Press confronted Reid's office early Wednesday with conclusions from several ethics experts that the Senate leader misstated congressional ethics rules in trying to defend his actions.
Senate ethics rules ...specifically warn against taking normally permissible gifts if the giver may be trying to influence official action.
"The test under congressional ethics rules in these circumstances is ...whether the gift creates the appearance that the gift is motivated by a desire to influence the member or gain favorable official action. If the gift creates such an appearance, it should not be accepted."
Clutching his hands to his heart, Senate Minority Leader Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, center, calls for lawmakers, and especially Republicans, to clean up the tainted relationship between lawmakers and lobbyists, at a Democratic political event
