Leaked Report Reveals Dozens of House Members Under Ethics Investigation
David Sessions
Washington Reporter
Posted:
10/30/09
A staffer inadvertently placed a confidential report on a public computer network, revealing that more than 30 members of the House of Representatives are under ethics investigation, the Washington Post reported Friday. The probe, by the secretive House Ethics Committee, also includes congressional aides and focuses on issues like defense lobbying and corporate influence peddling. Such investigations are routine and usually result in a private letter of either reprimand or exoneration.
The document revealed that the ethics panel interviewed Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) about a trip he took with several other members of the Congressional Black Caucus that was underwritten by such companies as AT&T and Citigroup, a violation of House rules. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Mass.) has also recently come under scrutiny for activities involving OneUnited Bank of Massachusetts, in which her husband owns $250,000 in stock. Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) was mentioned in the document, but the Ethics Committee said it has since cleared him of any ethical violations.
The document revealed that the ethics panel interviewed Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) about a trip he took with several other members of the Congressional Black Caucus that was underwritten by such companies as AT&T and Citigroup, a violation of House rules. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Mass.) has also recently come under scrutiny for activities involving OneUnited Bank of Massachusetts, in which her husband owns $250,000 in stock. Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) was mentioned in the document, but the Ethics Committee said it has since cleared him of any ethical violations.