(CHICAGO)(April 14, 2007) Chicago-based Internet journalist, broadcaster and media critic Andy Martin will hold a news conference Saturday, April 14th at 11:00 A.M. to call for the removal of Paul Wolfowitz at the World Bank. Martin is the first Republican to call for Wolfowitz’ ouster.

     “Mr. Wolfowitz has apparently forgotten the sex scandals of the Clinton years,” Martin will charge. “Republicans then stood for a higher moral standard in ‘office politics.’ I am distressed and disappointed to see Treasury Secretary Paulson endorsing misbehavior at the Bank. We should avoid not only actual impropriety but the ‘appearance of impropriety.’ Mr. Wolfowitz’ tactics appears to have been mendacious and evasive. We impeached a president for Wolfowitz’ type of legerdemain.

     “Since he arrived at the Bank, Wolfowitz has treated the enterprise as a Chicago-style patronage machine for his political cronies and paramour. That is silly unacceptable. He has undermined his own efforts to fight against corruption and for more transparency.”

     In an editorial commentary published Saturday at ContrarianCommentary.com, Martin says simply “Wolfowitz must go.”

     “As a Republican, I do not think we should have to carry the burden of Wolfowitz in 2008. It is time to start cleaning up all of the ethical barnacles of the past several years. Wolfowitz’ ‘modified limited hang-out’ does not cut it with me and it will cut against Republicans in 2008,” Martin says. “He ruined Iraq and now he is ruining the World bank. Enough is enough.”

     Martin, a Republican, has indicated he will seek the Senate seat of Illinois Democrat Richard Durbin.