West Virginia’s longest-serving representative in Congress was called out as one of the 14 most corrupt members of Congress by a left-leaning organization.

Rep. Nick Rahall said the “findings” of the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) were a “distraction” from real political discourse. Rahall was one of only four Democrats on the list.

“Congressional approval ratings are at an all-time low, and one look at this collection of Washington’s worst shows why,” said CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan in a statement. “Neither political party has a monopoly on shady conduct. In fact, it’s the only thing that seems bipartisan these days.”

CREW itself has come under some scrutiny. The Center for Consumer Freedom calls the organization a “Democrat lapdog” that attacks conservatives under the guise of non-partisanship.

Tuesday morning, Rahall had not been aware of the report, but upon glancing over the material, he referred to it as “the same stuff that comes out every election.

“It is a real distraction from the real issues,” Rahall said. “People are fed up with that kind of negativism. Especially when it’s just a rehash every two years, you can see through for what it is.

According to the release, Rahall made the list for “letting his lobbyist sister trade on his name — perhaps even allowing her to maintain a mailbox in his office — and for using congressional stationary to influence a judge about to sentence his son.”

The report on Rahall, a seven-page document, mostly summarizes prior reports made public by Politico writer John Bresnahan. Most of the incidents explored in the report occurred between 2005 and 2009.

“My son has had problems, not unknown to a lot of families, and those that don’t have problems with their siblings, God bless them,” Rahall said. “ ... I love all of my children and grandchildren and I stand by him and he’s recovered and now a graduate of (Mountain State University) and is becoming a productive member of society.”

Rahall said he had not attempted to influence the judge involved in his son’s case, and added that he had not written the judge until after background work had been done. Rahall admitted and reiterated prior comments that it was a mistake to use the “wrong stationary” at the time.

Rahall also insisted allegations that his sister’s lobbying was also not an ethical breach.

“She has business in D.C. totally independent of me,” Rahall said. “I can’t help that her last name is Rahall, but I love my sister as well. I have no idea of her client, she lives her own life and I live mine.”

Rahall said he is not focusing on re-election.

“We’re going through a gubernatorial election right now,” Rahall said. “I think people are focused on that if they aren’t tired of it already. I’m focused on doing the job that I’ve been elected to do for two years and that’s my No. 1 goal.”

— E-mail: tkuykendall@register-herald.com