WASHINGTON, United States (AP) – The House stripped Democratic Representative William Jefferson of his committee seat yesterday, one day after Democrats recommended taking action against the Louisiana lawmaker ensnared in a bribery scandal.

The move came on a voice vote, without debate, and capped an election-year effort by House Democrats to seize the political high ground on the issue of lawmaker ethics.

Jefferson had refused to step aside voluntarily from the powerful House Ways and Means Committee before the corruption probe was completed.

The drive to remove him from the committee, led by the Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California, sparked protests by black lawmakers who said Jefferson was being singled out unfairly.

Jefferson, who has denied wrongdoing and has not been indicted, was on the House floor at the time of the action.

On Thursday night, Democrats voted 99-58 to strip Jefferson of his seat on the Ways and Means Committee, with jurisdiction over taxes, trade, Social Security, Medicare and more.

“This isn’t about proof in a court of law. This is about an ethical standard,” Pelosi told reporters afterward.

Jefferson has not been indicted and maintains his innocence.

The FBI alleges that it found $90,000 in bribe money in a food freezer in the congressman’s home.

In the wake of the vote by fellow Democrats, Jefferson had appeared to leave open the possibility he might step aside voluntarily, telling reporters, “I don’t want to speculate.”

He also disclosed he had offered on Wednesday to step aside on the condition that the caucus establish a rule covering cases like his and that his seat on the committee go temporarily to a fellow Louisiana Democrat, Rep Charles Melancon.

“Ms Pelosi politely declined my offer,” he said in a written statement. Pelosi’s office confirmed the exchange.