Jean Schmidt

Watchdog Says Rep. Schmidt Lied To Ethics Investigators

Susan Crabtree | October 26, 2011, 1:46PM

An ethics watchdog group has filed a complaint with a House ethics office, accusing Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-OH) of lying in an attempt to throw off a previous House ethics investigation into her failure to pay almost $500,000 in legal bills.

The group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, filed its complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics, a quasi-independent body charged with conducting preliminary reviews of allegations against lawmakers and furthering them on to the full Ethics Committee for further action. CREW also asked the FBI to investigate.

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Ethics

Watt, House GOP Leaders, Plan Sneak Attack On Ethics Office

Susan Crabtree | July 21, 2011, 12:23PM

Rep. Mel Watt (D-NC)

Rep. Mel Watt (D-NC), with the help of Republicans leaders, is launching a sneak attack on the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE), the only quasi-independent ethics watchdog policing the behavior of members of Congress.

Watt, a prominent member of the Congressional Black Caucus, may be looking for some retribution against the office for investigating him last year. Along with a bipartisan group of several other members, Watt was part of a wide-ranging OCE probe into the propriety of holding fundraising events with big players in the financial sector within days -- or even on the very day -- of a vote on the Wall Street reform bill. He and the other members were eventually cleared of any wrongdoing but not before the investigation leaked to the press and he and the other members made "under investigation" headlines.

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John Ensign

Ensign Still On The Ethics Hook After Resigning

Susan Crabtree | April 22, 2011, 3:47PM

Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)

Scandal-scarred Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) may have hoped resigning would keep quiet unsavory details and new charges surrounding his affair with a top staffer's wife, but he's not off the hook yet.

The Senate Ethics Committee issued a rare statement Friday signaling it would continue its investigation of Ensign's affair and steps he took to keep it quiet despite having formally resigned his Senate seat. Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA), the top Democrat and Republican on the panel respectively, said his resignation is "appropriate" and indicated they would wrap up work on the probe as soon as possible.

"The Senate Ethics Committee has worked diligently for nearly 22 months on this matter and will complete its work in a timely fashion," they said in the statement.

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Jo Bonner

GOP Ethics Chair: Ethics Office Would Take Info From A Tabloid

Ryan J. Reilly | January 31, 2011, 4:15PM

Rep. Jo Bonner (R-AL) told a reporter for a newspaper in his home state that political realities kept House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) from shutting down the independent Office of Congressional Ethics, which he said would begin an investigation "out of the National Enquirer."

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Ethics

Ethics Committee: Wall Street Fundraisers Weren't As Bad As DeLay

Ryan J. Reilly | January 26, 2011, 6:00PM

Reps. John Campbell (R-CA), Joseph Crowley (D-NY) and Tom Price (R-GA)

Nothing to see here, folks!

That's the takeaway of the House Ethics Committee's 616-page report on fundraisers targeting financial industry lobbyists held by members of the House around the time the legislative body was voting on an overhaul of financial regulation in December of 2009.

Despite the recommendations of the more independent Office of Congressional Ethics, the House Ethics Committee wouldn't be looking into whether events geared towards financial lobbyists held by three members of Congress had the appearance of impropriety.

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Paul Magliocchetti

Despite Donations To Girl Scouts, PMA Lobbyist Gets 27 Months

Ryan J. Reilly and Alex Sciuto | January 7, 2011, 6:17PM

Former super-lobbyist Paul Magliocchetti was sentenced today to 27 months in prison, a spokesman for the Justice Department told TPM.

Peter Carr, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office for the Eastern District of Virginia, told TPM that the hearing, which began at 1 p.m., lasted until 5:30 p.m.

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Office of Congressional Ethics

What Members Of Congress Improperly Bought With Their Per Diem Cash

Ryan J. Reilly | January 4, 2011, 8:00AM

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) and Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL)

Rep. Joe "You Lie" Wilson (R-SC) used the cash the government gave him for his personal lodging, meals and incidentals during an official overseas trips to buy a statue of the statesman who founded Turkey, marble goblets from Afghanistan and flags from various countries with which to decorate his congressional office. Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL) picked up flowers, candy and wine for ambassadors or other hosts; had custom-made baseball hats for staff and members attending one overseas trip; and gave a $100 bill to an Iraqi refugee at an event in Saudi Arabia.

Rep. Robert B. Aderholt (R-AL) purchased gifts like "leather goods, t-shirts, dolls, and post cards" for his family and used his per diem to cover the expenses of his wife, who accompanied him on at least one trip. Rep. G. K. Butterfield (D-NC) picked up gifts and souvenirs for his family with his per diem and also suggested members pick up the cost of one ''shockingly'' expensive meal for their staffers. Rep. Eliot L. Engel (D-NY) "occasionally used the per diem to cover the meals and entertainment of leaders or residents of the country that he visited" as well as gifts for his secretary and chief of staff. Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz (D-TX) picked up the tab of some meals for his staff.

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Charlie Rangel

Charlie Rangel: I Can't Say Anything, Well, Except... (VIDEO)

Ryan J. Reilly | November 15, 2010, 10:36AM

Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY)

In an impromptu moving news conference after he walked out of his ethics hearing on Monday, Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) told reporters he didn't think there was much he could say about the charges against him.

"I wish I could make a statement... I don't think there's anything that I can say," Rangel said in front of a row of cameras set up just outside the 3rd floor hearing room in the House Longworth Building.

Then he said a lot.

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Office of Congressional Ethics

Office Of Congressional Ethics Not Making Friends On Hill

Ryan J. Reilly | September 14, 2010, 2:02PM

Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

If you need a friend in Washington, get a dog, the saying goes. Well, the Office of Congressional Ethics could be headed for the pound.

Both Republicans and Democrats are unhappy with the OCE, and no matter what side of the aisle wins in November, the office will likely be neutered or forced the close its doors, the National Journal reports.

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Office of Congressional Ethics

Half A Dozen Reps Being Investigated For Use Of Travel Funds

Ryan J. Reilly | September 3, 2010, 11:11AM

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC)

Six members of the House of Representatives are being questioned by congressional investigators over the possibility they kept the remainder of the per diem payments they receive when traveling overseas on official trips.

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Tom DeLay

Timing Is Key In Investigations Of Donations From Financial Interests

Ryan J. Reilly | September 3, 2010, 9:40AM

Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-NY)

When news came out this week that three members of Congress had been referred to the House ethics committee for further investigation into possible ethics violations because of fundraisers they held ahead of a vote on financial reform, observers were surprised that the Office of Congressional Ethics based the decision on the appearance of impropriety rather than solid evidence that anything was done wrong.

But according to House ethics guidelines, looks do matter.

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Office of Congressional Ethics

Is Appearance Of Impropriety Now Enough To Open An Ethics Investigation?

Ryan J. Reilly | September 2, 2010, 1:51PM

Rep. Tom Price (R-GA)

The Office of Congressional Ethics told the Ethics Committee that the conduct of three members of the House in the time leading up to the vote on the Financial Regulatory Reform warrants further investigation. But OCE also dismissed similar investigations against five other members. So what's the difference between a legal campaign contribution and a "legislation-for-contribution" scheme that violates the honest services law -- and does the OCE really believe that the three members they referred to the Committee violated it?

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Office of Congressional Ethics

OCE Recommends Three Congressmen For Further Ethics Probe

Rachel Slajda | September 1, 2010, 9:16AM

Rep. Tom Price (R-GA)

The Office of Congressional Ethics, a semi-independent body that investigates House members on ethics charges and forwards its findings to the official House ethics committee, says the conduct of three members warrants further investigation.

The OCE has been investigating Reps. John Campbell (R-CA), Joseph Crowley (D-NY) and Tom Price (R-GA) for fundraisers they held in the days before voting on financial reform legislation last December. The office dismissed similar investigations against five other members.

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Gregory Meeks

CREW Files Ethics Complaint Against Gregory Meeks

Megan Carpentier | July 13, 2010, 12:52PM

Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY)

New York Rep. Gregory Meeks, under fire for undisclosed loans from friends reportedly used to renovate his house, will now face an Office of Congressional Ethics investigation as well.

The Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) filed a complaint against Meeks with the Office of Congressional Ethics today based on the NY Daily News reports that Meeks failed to disclose the personal loans and his participation on two non-profit boards.

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C Street

Ethics Office Clears C Street House In Rent Probe

Justin Elliott | June 18, 2010, 4:30PM

C Street House

The Office of Congressional Ethics has sent letters to several residents of the C Street Christian fellowship house informing them that there is no "probable cause" to believe legislators are getting improper gifts in the form of below-market rent, Roll Call reports.

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Office of Congressional Ethics

Reports: OCE Probe Focused On Fundraisers, Auto Dealer Exemption

Rachel Slajda | June 16, 2010, 12:14PM

Rep. Mel Watt (D-NC)

The House Office of Congressional Ethics investigation into eight lawmakers is focusing on fundraisers held in the two days before the final vote on financial reform legislation, according to news reports.

According to The Hill, the OCE is specifically looking into a fundraiser held for Rep. Mel Watt (D-NC) two days before he pulled an amendment that could have hurt certain auto dealers.

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Office of Congressional Ethics

Report: OCE Asks Lobbyists For Info On Eight Congressmen

Rachel Slajda | June 14, 2010, 2:57PM

K Street in Washington, DC

The Hill reports today that the House Office of Congressional Ethics has asked lobbyists for information and documents relating to eight House members: five Republicans and three Democrats.

The members are Reps. John Campbell (R-CA), Joe Crowley (D-NY), Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), Christopher Lee (R-NY), Frank Lucas (R-OK), Earl Pomeroy (D-ND), Tom Price (R-GA) and Mel Watt (D-NC). All of them serve on either the Financial Services Committee or the Ways and Means Committee.

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PMA Group

Ethics Office Refers Earmarks-For-Contributions Evidence To DOJ

Justin Elliott | May 27, 2010, 10:28AM

Reps. Peter Visclosky (D-IN) and John Murtha (D-PA)

The PMA investigation may have some life left in it yet.

Even after a House ethics committee investigation of allegations of an earmarks-for-campaign contributions scheme by the now-defunct lobby shop PMA Group found no wrongdoing back in February, the independent Office of Congressional Ethics this morning announced it is referring evidence gathered in its probe of PMA to the Justice Department.

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PMA

House Ethics Mounts Rare Defense Of Probe Into Dem Lobby Shop

Justin Elliott | April 27, 2010, 9:39AM

Rep. Jo Bonner (R-AL) and Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)

The House Ethics Committee, typically one of the least communicative institutions in Congress, has released a three-page statement defending its investigation that found no wrongdoing in the case of now defunct lobbying firm PMA Group, which was allegedly involved in exchanging campaign contributions for defense earmarks.

"[D]isclosing specific investigative steps taken in the PMA matter could compromise any ongoing criminal investigations; harm the ability of the Committee to investigate any additional allegations of wrongdoing in this or related matters; discourage those who might bring credible allegations to the Committee in the future from doing so; and chill the voluntary cooperation of those called before the Committee in various investigations," said Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Jo Bonner (R-AL), chair and ranking member of the ethics panel.

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Frontier Foundation

Rep. Buyer: Ethics Office Closes Review Of Foundation

Justin Elliott | March 30, 2010, 5:00PM

Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN)

Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN) announced today that the Office of Congressional Ethics had closed with no further action a review of his foundation, which came under scrutiny last year for collecting donations from companies seeking to curry favor with Buyer but not giving out anything for its stated purpose of providing scholarships.

The watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics (CREW) had asked OCE, the independent House ethics office, to look at Buyer's Frontier Foundation in January, citing reporting by TPMmuckraker and other outlets.

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Nathan Deal

Ethics Office Releases Report On Fmr. GOP Rep's Auto Business

Justin Elliott | March 29, 2010, 1:44PM

Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA)

In an unusual move, the independent House ethics office has released a report on former Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA), whose sweetheart business arrangement with the state of Georgia has drawn media scrutiny.

Deal, who is running for governor, resigned from Congress late on the night of March 21, after casting a vote against the health care legislation.

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Nathan Deal

Did GOP Rep Resign To Squelch Ethics Probe?

Justin Elliott | March 1, 2010, 3:00PM

Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA)

Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA), who is under investigation by the ethics committee for reportedly intervening with Georgia officials to preserve a lucrative business agreement with the state, announced today he is leaving Congress, effective next Monday.

Why did he do it?

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House Ethics Committee

Ethics Smackdown! House Panel Slams Rival Body Over Stark Probe

Zachary Roth | January 28, 2010, 3:57PM

Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA)

Tension between two Congressional ethics bodies boiled over today in connection to an investigation of a California congressman.

The House Ethics committee announced that it had voted unanimously to dismiss a probe into whether Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) improperly took advantage of a tax break for Maryland homeowners.

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PMA Group

Ethics Panel Probing Visclosky, Tiahrt, For PMA Ties

Zachary Roth | January 18, 2010, 9:27AM

Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-KS) and Rep. Pete Visclosky (D-IN)

The House ethics committee is probing two lawmakers' ties to PMA Group, the now-defunct lobbying firm that has been at the center of a federal investigation since last year.

The identity of one of those lawmakers, Rep. Pete Visclosky (D-IN) comes as little surprise. That of the other, Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-KS), is more unexpected.

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PMA Group

One Down: House Ethics Office Closes Murtha-PMA Probe

Justin Elliott | December 18, 2009, 6:17PM

Rep. John Murtha (D-PA)

The Office of Congressional Ethics has ended its investigation of Rep. John Murtha's ties to now-defunct lobbying firm PMA Group, recommending against a further inquiry by the House ethics panel, which is also investigating Murtha.

The development was first reported by Roll Call. We laid out the charges in the PMA matter, including allegations that members of Congress exchanged earmarks for PMA's clients for campaign donations, in this post.

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CREW

CREW: Bachmann Rally May Have Violated House Rules

Zachary Roth | November 17, 2009, 12:29PM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

A recent rally against health-care reform, organized on the Capitol steps by Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), may have violated House rules.

The good-government group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington is asking the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) to probe whether Bachmann misused her congressional website in publicizing the rally.

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