Ethics panel meets in closed session

no word on Currie

The Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics, which has on its plate the case of whether to discipline Sen. Ulysses Currie, met in closed session for about a hour Tesday but there was no word on what it will do about the Prince George's County Democrat.

 Among the reasons given for the closing was "possible discipline of members of the General Assembly."

Legislative ethics adviser Bill Somerville  stepped out midway through the closed session. Since Somerville isn't taking part in prosecutorial matters, the panel likely moved on from confidential advisory opinions to discipline questions.

 Currie's case was referred to the panel after his acquittal at a bribery-extortion trial during which his lawyers admitted he failed to make required disclosures.

 Neither Currie nor his lawyer attended-- something that could eventually happen at the panel's discretion. Committee members, who are required to keep matters confidential while proceedings continue, had no comment after the session broke up about 12:30 p.m.

So the Currie watch continues.