Political Scene

HOUSE

Staff quits after boss switches party

Freshman Rep. Parker Griffith of Alabama has lost most of his staff after switching parties from Democrat to Republican last month.

Chief of Staff Sharon Wheeler said in a resignation statement Monday that the economy of north Alabama’s 5th District has benefited from decades of Democratic representation in Washington. The region relies heavily on defense and aerospace jobs.

She said Mr. Griffith “abandoned the legacy” of conservative Democratic leadership in the district, which includes Huntsville.

Several legislative aides and spokesman Sean Magers also quit.

Mr. Griffith is a former state senator. He narrowly won the seat last year but said on Dec. 22 that he could no longer support Congressional Democrats on health care and other policies.

SUPREME COURT

Case settled over prosecutors’ conduct

A multimillion-dollar settlement has ended a wrongful prosecution case from Iowa that was being considered by the Supreme Court.

The court on Monday agreed to dismiss the case from Pottawattamie County, Iowa, despite having heard arguments in November.

The Iowa county and two former prosecutors were being sued by two men because they had been sentenced to life in prison for a murder they didn’t commit.

The prosecutors argued they were immune from lawsuits because they were acting within the scope of their jobs. The Supreme Court was to decide whether that immunity would be enough to stop Terry Harrington and Curtis McGhee’s lawsuits.

Under the settlement, the men will receive $12 million.

IRS

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