So far we have written two letters to the Senate Ethics Committee requesting an investigation of Senator Bill Frist's sale of HCA, Inc. stock from his so-called "blind" trust. We haven't gotten any response from them yet. The Securities and Exchange Commission is already investigating whether Frist is guilty of insider trading because his family started HCA and his brother sits on the board of directors. So we need your help in convincing the leaders Senate Ethics Committee to investigate the sale of Senator Bill Frist's stock in his family's company.

Call their offices and demand that the Ethics Committee investigate Senator Frist's stock sales:

• Senator George Voinovich (R-OH)
  Chairman, Senate Ethics Committee
  202-224-3353 or 202-224-2981
  
• Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD)
  Ranking Member, Senate Ethics Committee
  202-224-5842

Again to recap, according to the Ethics Committee , a "blind" trust means that there shall be no "direct or indirect communication" between senators and trustees unless the senator is directing the trustee "to sell all of an asset . . . [which] creates a conflict of interest ... due to the subsequent assumption of duties " by the senator.

The concern about conflict of interest about Senator's Frist stock sales is pretty apparent. First, there appears to be "direct or indirect communication" between Senator Frist and his trustees concerning the contents of the blind trusts.  Senate records show that trustees for Senator Frist and members of his family wrote the senator nearly two dozen times between 2001 and July 2005, about transfers of assets to his blind trusts and sales of assets. This does not sound like a "blind" trust.

And, what are Senator Frist's "subsequent assumption of duties?" He has been the majority leader in the Senate for three years. A spokesperson for Senator Frist has said that the sale was approved to avoid a conflict of interest because the senator is preparing to promote health care legislation. The problem with this argument, of course, is that Senator Frist has been promoting health care legislation for years, such as the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit bill in 2003, which he sponsored in the Senate.

So, clearly there is a legitimate concern that Senator Frist may have violated conflict of interest rules, which the Senate Ethics Committee needs to investigate today. So, please call the Senate leaders at the number above, and urge them to start a prompt and thorough investigate by the Ethics Committee into Senator Frist's stock sales. And, as always ask your family, friends, anyone else who wants to join our efforts to restore honor and integrity in our democratic institutions.

It is critical that the Senate Ethics Committee exercise effective oversight and enforcement of rules relating to the use of blind trusts in order to maintain public credibility and avoid conflicts of interest.