Currie Must Go

We have noted the ethical problems State Senator Ulysses Currie got himself into, and now it has become painfully apparent that Currie was not just working for Shoppers Food Warehouse without disclosing it on his ethics form, but was clearly using his influence as a State Senator in order to help his undocumented employer:

State Sen. Ulysses Currie has repeatedly intervened with state agencies since at least 2003 on behalf of Shoppers Food and Pharmacy, involving himself in the minute details of its business, such as traffic light installations, roadside improvements and other projects near the grocery chain's stores, according to thousands of documents reviewed by The Sun.

Currie, the Prince George's Democrat who chairs the powerful Budget and Taxation Committee, worked as a paid consultant for the chain but did not disclose that employment on state financial disclosure forms. His ties with the firm are now the subject of a federal investigation that led to simultaneous FBI raids on his home and Shoppers' Lanham headquarters in May.

According to the documents, he held meetings, made phone calls and wrote letters - including some on his committee stationery - to state transportation officials, frequently lobbying on matters far from his legislative district.

Read all of the annoying details. And here is the money quote from the Post story:

Nothing in the documents indicates that any of the state officials were aware that Currie was a consultant for the grocery chain.

Clearly, this violation of public trust is getting worse and worse by the day. If Currie had any class and knew the right thing to do, he would resign his seat immediately to allow the people of the 25th District to be represented by somebody who has the interests of their constituents, not paychecks, at heart.

But since I doubt that Currie will do the right thing, Senate leadership needs to step up and expel Currie from the Senate. Violations of the public trust like this cannot and should not be tolerated by anybody, regardless of party affiliation.