Another 'C Street' Pol Accused of Cheating

Another week, another sex scandal: Word broke late yesterday that former GOP Rep. Chip Pickering is the latest politico in trouble for allegedly cheating on his wife. Pickering’s now-estranged wife, Leisha, has filed suit against his alleged mistress, whom she says busted up their marriage and ruined her husband’s political career. The alleged other woman, Elizabeth Creekmore Byrd, was Pickering’s college sweetheart. The suit claims Pickering, who left Congress in January, began having an affair with Creekmore Byrd when he was still in the House and that their relationship ended both of their marriages. What’s so juicy about this latest dust-up? Well, while he was in Congress, Pickering just so happened to bunk at the increasingly infamous rowhouse at 133 C Street SE here in Washington, a “Christian fellowship home” where he was roomies with John Ensign and where Mark Sanford used to hang out. Ensign and Sanford, as the world well knows, have been caught up in their own sex scandals in recent weeks. C Street is even mentioned in Leisha Pickering’s lawsuit: She says her husband and Creekmore Byrd snuck around there. Scandal!

So what exactly is going on at this house on C Street? The Washington Post had a good profile a few weeks ago about the increasingly curious rowhouse, which is owned by a secretive religious group that encourages lawmakers to promote Christian ideals in public policy. At least five GOP members of Congress currently rent rooms there, including Ensign. Other lawmakers are said to come and go, attending Bible studies and other “fellowship” events. Another resident is Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, who reportedly called Ensign on the carpet for his indiscretions. Earlier this week, Coburn told Roll Call that he wouldn’t tell anybody what he and Ensign discussed, claiming that his was advising Ensign both as an ordained minister and a doctor, two roles that offer confidentiality, he insists. Will the Senate ethics committee buy it? They are reportedly weighing a probe into payments Ensign’s parents made to his mistress’s family.
 
No doubt Pickering’s problems will turn up the focus on other residents in the house. According to the Post, that includes Reps. Mike Doyle, Bart Stupak and Zach Wamp—none of whom will comment on what’s been happening at C Street. Privately, they are said to be worried about being tarred by the various scandals. With that in mind, perhaps it’s time to start looking for a new place to live.