The Hill News

Ethics trials against two top-ranking Democrats could actually help the party this fall, their House campaign chief asserted Thursday.

The trials awaiting Reps. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) and Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) in September will underscore the ethics reforms Democrats put in place in place after taking control of the House in 2006, said Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC).

"It's another example of how we've actually strengthened the ethics process," Van Hollen said during an appearance on MSNBC.

The House broke for recess last week after recommending the two lawmakers face proceedings after the Office of Congressional Ethics, which Democrats formed in 2006, outlined a series of allegations of ethical breaches.

The charges are particularly high-profile for Rangel, a veteran member of the House with close ties to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). The alle! gations forced Rangel to step down from his position as chairman of the House Ways and Means committee earlier this year.

Ethics cases are typically seen as a burden for an incumbent party heading into elections. Republicans were saddled with scandals related to lobbyist Jack Abramoff and other issues before losing the House and Senate in 2006. And Democrats in 1994 faced a plague of their own ethical problems before the GOP landslides that year.

Van Hollen said the lawmakers might not even have faced the trials under the rules Republicans had maintained. He pointed to Republicans' decision to waive some rules to allow then-Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas) to continue to serve in leadership after having faced indictment.

"The facts are clear: We have strengthened the ethics process," Van Hollen said.