House Republicans removed Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) today from his ranking member post at the Natural Resources Committee. Young is stuck under a cloud of ethical questions related to the same federal investigation that ended in a felony conviction for Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens.

"Today Congressman Don Young asked that he be relieved of his duties as ranking member on the House Natural Resources Committee so that he can focus on resolving questions he is facing," Minority Leader John Boehner said in a press release. "I commend Don Young for putting the interests of the Republican Conference, the House, and the American people first by making this decision."

This move by Republican leadership appears to put added pressure on Speaker Nancy Pelosi to remove Ways and Means Committee chairman Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) -- under his own ethical cloud -- from his top spot. Democrats now lose ammunition to shoot back at Republicans with when they continue to call for Rangel's removal from the heavily influential committee.

Noting his innocence, Young said in a statement today that "the right thing for me to do is temporarily step down from my post as ranking member on the House Committee on Natural Resources while my name is cleared."

If it's the right thing for Young, should it be the right thing for Rangel?

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