Justin Elliott | October 30, 2009, 1:44PM

Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), October 29, 2009

The cable news networks have jumped all over the ethics document leaked to the Washington Post showing that over 30 members of Congress have been subjects of "inquiries" by the House ethics committee.

And the Post is having fun dissecting the weekly ethics summary report from July, publishing a new round of stories this morning looking at specific cases highlighted in the document.

But nearly all of the new stories show that the members in question were cleared of wrongdoing, and it's worth asking how much new information has really come to light.

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (0) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (2)
Topics: Alan Mollohan, Charles Rangel, House Ethics Committee, House Ethics Leak, Laura Richardson, Maxine Waters, PMA, Zoe Lofgren

John Murtha

Lobbyist Caught In Corruption Probe Could Have Legal Bills Paid By Campaign Funds

Zachary Roth | August 27, 2009, 4:46PM

When most people contribute to a campaign, they don't expect their money is going to be used to pay the legal bills of Washington lobbyists ensnared in a wide-ranging corruption investigation. But that's what could end up happening.

For months now, federal investigators have been looking at whether the PMA Group, a now defunct lobbying firm, tied campaign contributions to earmarks. Rep. Pete Visclosky (D-IN), who sits on the Defense Appropriations subcommittee and has close ties to PMA, has been subpoenaed for documents in the probe.

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (0) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)
Topics: John Murtha, Lobbyists, PMA, Pete Visclosky

John Murtha

FBI Getting Closer To Murtha?

Zachary Roth | July 21, 2009, 11:45AM

Is the noose tightening around John Murtha?

For months now, the Pennsylvania Democratic power-broker's name has been popping up in connection to a wide-ranging FBI investigation of defense contractors and lobbyists to whom he has ties. And yesterday brought more bad news...

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (13) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (11)
Topics: Defense Contractors, FBI, John Murtha, Lobbyists, PMA, Pete Visclosky

John Murtha

Murtha, Visclosky, PMA, Kuchera: What's Going On?

Zachary Roth | June 15, 2009, 3:53PM

Rep. John Murtha has long been on good-government groups' lists of the most corrupt lawmakers in Washington. But in recent months, the veteran Pennsylvania Democratic powerbroker has been under particularly intense scrutiny for his ties to two companies that are each the targets of federal investigations.

So it's worth taking a moment to consider what's going on in each case, and what it all amounts to.

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (7) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (10)
Topics: John Murtha, Lobbyists, Nancy Pelosi, PMA, Pete Visclosky

PMA

Hoyer: PMA Issue "Ought To Be Looked At"

Zachary Roth | June 4, 2009, 1:50PM

Rep. Steny Hoyer wants an ethics probe of lawmakers' ties to PMA.

Yesterday, the House number two pushed through a resolution requiring the Ethics committee to disclose whether it's investigating members who took money from the now-defunct lobbying firm. And speaking at a breakfast event today, reports The Hill, Hoyer made clear that the true intent of the measure was a declaration that "this is a serious matter and ought to be looked at." He also said Speaker Nancy Pelosi supported the move.

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (0) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (2)
Topics: John Murtha, Nancy Pelosi, PMA, Pete Visclosky

Pete Visclosky

Ethics Committee Must Reveal Whether It's Probing Lawmakers' Ties To PMA

Zachary Roth | June 3, 2009, 4:57PM

Drip, drip.

We should soon know whether the House Ethics committee is probing any lawmakers' ties to the now-defunct PMA lobbying group. The House has passed Rep. Steny Hoyer's resolution to force the committee to disclose the issue, reports Roll Call. The vote was 270-134.

Federal investigators are looking into whether PMA gave campaign contributions in exchange for earmarks. Two powerful Democratic lawmakers, Reps. Pete Visclosky and John Murtha have received the most scrutiny for their ties to PMA. Last week, Visclosky acknowledged that he had been subpoenaed in connection with the probe.

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (2) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)
Topics: John Murtha, Lobbyists, PMA, Pete Visclosky

John Murtha

Is Ethics Panel Probing Lawmakers' PMA Ties? Hoyer Wants To Know

Zachary Roth | June 3, 2009, 2:37PM

The PMA story is starting to become a major headache for congressional Democrats.

RollCall reports that Rep. Steny Hoyer, the House number 2, plans this afternoon to offer a measure designed to force the House Ethics committee to reveal whether it's investigating senior Democratic appropriators' ties to the now-defunct lobbying firm.

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (0) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)
Topics: John Murtha, Lobbyists, PMA, Pete Visclosky

Lobbyists

Visclosky's Top Aide "Retires" Amid PMA Probe

Zachary Roth | June 2, 2009, 4:41PM

Not a great day for Rep. Pete Visclosky.

First, he announces that, amid a federal probe of a lobbying firm to which he has close ties, he's handing off responsibility for a key appropriations bill. Now, the Northwest Indiana Times reports that, according to a spokesman for the Indiana Democrat, his top aide has unexpectedly "retired."

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (2) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (4)
Topics: Lobbyists, PMA, Pete Visclosky

Pete Visclosky

Visclosky Hands Off Key Bill, Citing PMA Probe

Zachary Roth | June 2, 2009, 2:27PM

It looks like Rep. Pete Visclosky is starting to pay a political price for his ties to the now-defunct PMA lobbying firm.

Last week, we told you that the Feds have subpoenaed the Indiana congressman for documents relating to the firm. And now Visclosky has announced that he'll hand off to a colleague responsibility for a key appropriations bill on the subcommittee he chairs.