In a letter to his Democratic colleagues, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D., Ohio) has announced his run for the Ranking Member position on the House Oversight Committee, and included some harsh words for the presumptive Chairman, Rep. Darrell Issa.

“Mr. Issa, through his eagerness to make unsubstantiated charges and to draw conclusions in advance of evidence, reveals a lack of restraint and basic fairness,” Kucinich wrote.” He accused Issa of making “wild and unsubstantiated charges which threaten to turn the principal oversight committee of the House into a witch hunt.” More from the letter:

We cannot simply stand by idly and hope that such a reckless approach to the use of the power of the Chair will not happen, especially since it is not only being promised, but demonstrated by the person who will hold the gavel.
It is a matter of the highest importance that any intemperate use of the power of the Chair be challenged at every turn.
Accordingly, I have decided to step forward as a candidate for Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Kucinich’s bid is a direct challenge to current Oversight Chairman Edolphus Towns, who is also running. Townes has been criticized by some Democrats who don’t believe he is a formidable enough counter to Issa, but already has the backing of several senior Democrats on the committee. Townes spokeswoman Jenny Rosenberg issued a statement saying he is “currently reaching out to his fellow Democrats and is encouraged by their overwhelming support.”

Kucinich, who is currently the fourth ranking Democrat on Oversight behind Reps. Carolyn Maloney of New York and Elijah Cummings of Maryland, argues in his letter for a strong Ranking Member, though never mentions Townes or explains why he would be the better man for the job. House aides say Kucinich has almost no chance of winning, and his bid is likely be another unwelcome distraction for Democrats still reeling from a midterm blowout.

Issa spokesman Kurt Bardella tells NRO “we’ll let the Dems figure this one out.”