Dr. Coburn is threatened with censure

Sen. Tom Coburn’s (R-Okla.) office hit back Monday at new attempts to prevent him from delivering babies for free, arguing the Ethics panel might as well investigate Sen. Patrick Leahy’s (D-Vt.) cameo in “The Dark Knight.”

Because of potential conflicts of interest, Senate rules prohibit members from receiving compensation for practicing a profession that involves a “fiduciary” relationship. Coburn’s work as an obstetrician has been a subject of interest for ethics panels in the Senate and the House when he was a representative.

Coburn spokesman John Hart asked. “Will millions of Americans now see Batman not because it features stars like Christian Bale or the late Heath Ledger, but because Patrick Leahy, a distinguished United States senator, has offered his illustrious endorsement to this motion picture?"

Leahy spokesman David Carle pointed out that his boss gives any proceeds he receives from movie appearances to the Kellogg-Hubbard children’s wing of the Montpelier Public Library. Leahy received $2,000 for his appearance in “The Dark Knight,” all of which was given to the children’s fund, Carle said.

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/dr.-co...