DOJ Ends Mollohan Probe; Is Ethics Next?
January 27, 2010, 1:00 A.M.
The Justice Department confirmed Tuesday that it has closed out a four-year probe of Rep. Alan Mollohan (D) without taking action against the West Virginia lawmaker, but Mollohan could still face scrutiny from the House ethics committee.
Read the full articleMembers Challenge OCE’s Investigations
February 3, 2010, 1:00 A.M.
Members under scrutiny by the Office of Congressional Ethics have been highly critical of its investigators, and some privately acknowledge urging fellow lawmakers to shun the office in favor of the House ethics committee. It is not yet clear that such recommendations are hampering the OCE’s ability to investigate House lawmakers.
Lawmakers Revise Their Financial Reports
February 2, 2010, 1:00 A.M.
Eight months after the deadline for filing their financial disclosure forms, Members of Congress are continuing to file amendments to the reports, in some cases raising more questions than the amendments answer.
DOD Tipped Pelosi on FOIA Request
January 26, 2010, 1:00 A.M.
Five months ago, Roll Call asked the Defense Department for documents relating to Congressional travel on military aircraft. The Pentagon has not yet responded to the request, but last week a spokesman for Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) contacted Roll Call to inquire about “your FOIA request on the Speaker.”
CREW Files Complaint on Buyer
January 26, 2010, 1:00 A.M.
An ethics watchdog group called Monday for both Internal Revenue Service and ethics probes into a nonprofit foundation closely tied to Rep. Steve Buyer (R-Ind.), alleging the charity may have violated tax laws. But Buyer dismissed the complaint, stating that the House ethics committee has privately addressed the matter.
Election Year Limits Ethics Office
January 20, 2010, 1:00 A.M.
While election-year restrictions on the Office of Congressional Ethics could create a bottleneck of its investigative referrals to the House, government watchdogs say the potential delays should not significantly impede the ethics process.
Election Year Limits Ethics Office
January 20, 2010, 1:00 A.M.
While election-year restrictions on the Office of Congressional Ethics could create a bottleneck of its investigative referrals to the House, government watchdogs say the potential delays should not significantly impede the ethics process.
Sentencing May End DOJ Earmark Probe
January 13, 2010, 1:00 A.M.
A defense contractor accused of diverting money from an earmark provided by Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) has been scheduled for sentencing at the end of February, suggesting that his cooperation with federal agents investigating earmarks is coming to a close.
Ex-Frost Aide Leads Effort to Reverse DeLay's Redistricting Triumph
January 12, 2010, 1:00 A.M.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars that will ultimately end up funding state, federal and local campaigns for Texas Democrats this year will first churn through a nondescript row house on Capitol Hill that serves as headquarters for a tight network of organizations dedicated to electing Democrats in the Lone Star State.
Whitfield Toasts Times in Turkey
December 8, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
Congressional travel records tell some unusual stories, but this one stands out: a Kentucky Republican traveling to Istanbul to celebrate the New York Times, on the tab of a Turkish industrial conglomerate.
Jefferson to Stay Out of Prison Pending Appeal
November 19, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
Ex-Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) received a temporary reprieve Wednesday when a federal judge ruled the former lawmaker will not have to begin his 13-year prison term while he appeals his conviction.
Bachmann ‘Tea Party’ Contested
November 18, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
A government watchdog group accused Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) of violating House rules, asserting Tuesday that the lawmaker improperly used official resources to organize a recent “tea party” event at the Capitol to oppose health care legislation.
Jefferson May Be Ineligible for Camp
November 17, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
Facing 13 years in prison for his August corruption conviction, ex-Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) hopes to be assigned to a minimum security prison camp instead of a prison surrounded with barbed wire, a request that the judge in his case is inclined to grant.
Jefferson’s Sentence Is a Record-Setter
November 16, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
A freezer full of cash made ex-Rep. William Jefferson a national punch line, and a federal judge on Friday made him a record-holder: The 13-year prison sentence given to the Louisiana Democrat is the longest ever handed down to a former Member of Congress.
Convicted Ex-Rep. Has 10 Business Days to Appeal
November 14, 2009, 5:48 P.M.
Ex-Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.), who was sentenced Friday to 13 years in prison but not immediately taken into custody, is awaiting a hearing Wednesday that will determine when he begins serving his sentence.
Jefferson Sentenced to 13 Years
November 13, 2009, 5:53 P.M.
A federal judge sentenced ex-Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) on Friday to 13 years in prison, the longest incarceration ever ordered for a former Member of Congress.
Five CBC Members Likely to Be Cleared
November 5, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
The House ethics committee is likely to exonerate five members of the Congressional Black Caucus who were accused of taking an improper trip to the Caribbean, according to sources familiar with the case.
Odd Subpoena Imperils Inquiry
October 27, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
An unusual arrangement concocted last week by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee to share subpoenaed documents with the House ethics panel could create enforcement hurdles in its search for mortgage documents.
Young Faces Bribery Accusation
October 26, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
In preparation for his sentencing in an Alaska bribery scheme, former oil executive Bill Allen released a tantalizing tidbit about the long-running legal allegations swirling around Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska): Allen told the Justice Department in 2007 that he had provided Young with more than $100,000 worth of gifts that the Congressman never reported.
House Committee Issues Subpoena in Countrywide Probe
October 24, 2009, 9:20 A.M.
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee issued a subpoena Friday night demanding loan information related to all current and former House Members who may have received mortgages from Countrywide Financial's VIP loan program — but it will take precautions not to identify incumbent lawmakers during its investigation.
House Panel Agrees on Countrywide Subpoenas
October 23, 2009, 11:36 P.M.
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee agreed Friday night to demand loan information related to all House Members, House aides and federal employees in a seven-page subpoena targeting a VIP program offered by the mortgage lender Countrywide.
Towns Pays for Unlisted Receipts
October 22, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.) paid a Federal Election Commission fine of nearly $5,000 in September, according to his most recent campaign finance report.
Carter Refiling Disclosure Forms to List Exxon Profits
October 22, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
Rep. John Carter (R-Texas) acknowledged Wednesday that he failed to disclose nearly $300,000 in profits from the sale of Exxon stock in 2006 and 2007, and his office said he will file amended financial disclosure forms with the House ethics committee as soon as possible.
Exxon Shares Net No Profit for Carter
October 21, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
Rep. John Carter (R-Texas) appears to have pulled off an unusual feat: selling more than $100,000 worth of Exxon Mobil Corp. stock — when it was selling at historic highs — without making a profit, according to financial disclosure forms filed by the Congressman.
Ex-House Aides Could Testify in Ring Retrial
October 20, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
When former House aide-turned-lobbyist Kevin Ring returns to court for a new trial on public corruption charges in June, a lineup of former House staffers could testify in his defense — despite previously invoking their Fifth Amendment rights — as the statute of limitations on crimes related to the case runs out.
Events Complicated by ‘Evolving’ Ethics Rules
October 6, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
For the past decade, the Congressional Black Caucus Political Education & Leadership Institute has sponsored an annual policy conference in Mississippi to discuss everything from health care to clean energy and infrastructure.
Ring Case Is Handed Over to Jury
October 6, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
A federal jury began deliberations Monday in the public corruption trial of former lobbyist Kevin Ring and could soon issue a verdict in only the second case to challenge the government’s charges stemming from its investigation of disgraced ex-lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
Grayson Chases Telecom Firms
September 24, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
A D.C. court ruling last week stood out because of the unusual plaintiff — Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) — who is trying to force telephone companies to return to consumers unused balances on prepaid calling cards. But to Grayson, the case must have sounded familiar: The issues and conclusions were nearly identical to a case Grayson brought in California six years ago against some of the same telephone companies.
Buchanan’s Sales Yield No Profit
September 23, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
Despite multiple high-stakes real estate transactions, Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) reported an unprofitable year in the real estate business in 2008.
Ethics Panels Clash in Public
September 17, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
The House ethics committee and Office of Congressional Ethics clashed publicly Wednesday over the investigation of a Republican lawmaker, exposing the often prickly relationship between the two oversight bodies.
Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Are a Bit Opaque in Filings
September 16, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) has an unusual approach to filing his annual financial disclosure forms: Despite rules requiring Members of Congress to disclose their spouses’ employers, Lewis never mentions on his form that his wife is on his Congressional payroll.
Trial Likely to Re-Open Abramoff Chapters
September 9, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
A cast of former Congressional aides and lobbyists who have pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the influence-peddling investigation of ex-lobbyist Jack Abramoff are expected to emerge from the shadows this month as the criminal trial of a former “Team Abramoff” deputy gets under way.
Jefferson Found Guilty of Bribery Charges
August 6, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
A federal jury found ex-Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) guilty Wednesday of 11 criminal charges including conspiracy to solicit bribes, money laundering, wire fraud and a pattern of racketeering activity.
House Orders Up Three Elite Jets
August 5, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
Last year, lawmakers excoriated the CEOs of the Big Three automakers for traveling to Washington, D.C., by private jet to attend a hearing about a possible bailout of their companies. But apparently Congress is not philosophically averse to private air travel: At the end of July, the House approved nearly $200 million for the Air Force to buy three elite Gulfstream jets for ferrying top government officials and Members of Congress.
PMA Probe Moves Quietly
August 4, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
Nearly two months after the House ethics committee acknowledged it is investigating lawmakers’ ties to the PMA Group — a statement made in the wake of demands for public accountability — little is known about the inquiry because the panel is using a process that limits the amount of information it has to release.
Jefferson Jury Hears Final Arguments
July 30, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
In a final attempt to sway jurors in the criminal trial of ex-Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.), federal prosecutors and the defense attorney reiterated their starkly different portrayals of the former House Member in closing arguments Wednesday.
Ethics Will Tinker With Travel Rules
July 29, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
The House ethics committee plans to tweak the chamber’s travel rules to cut down on paperwork two years after the House effectively banned lobbyist-sponsored junkets with stringent restrictions on privately sponsored trips.
Bishop Pays $55K to Lawyers
July 22, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
Rep. Sanford Bishop’s (D-Ga.) campaign racked up $55,000 in legal expenses to the law firm Greenberg Traurig in the first half of 2009, according to campaign finance reports.
The Georgia lawmaker, who has not detailed any other legal expenses in reports filed with the Federal Election Commission since at least 2001, paid $30,000 to Greenberg Traurig’s Washington, D.C., office on June 4. He had issued a $25,000 payment to the firm’s Atlanta office in March.
Rangel Reports Big ’09 Legal Expenses
July 21, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
Among the five House lawmakers known to be under investigation by the House ethics committee, only Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) has reported payments to attorneys in the first half of this year, according to Federal Election Commission reports.
Appropriations Panel Routinely Destroyed Old Earmark Requests
July 14, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
The House ethics committee has announced that it is investigating the links between earmarks and campaign contributions, but if investigators are looking at any activity prior to 2007, they could run into a problem: The documents underlying those earmarks may have been destroyed.
Murtha-Linked Firm Charged
July 8, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
The Justice Department this week filed criminal charges against a defense contractor who has received millions of dollars worth of earmarks from Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), bringing together two parallel cases that are swirling around a host of firms with ties to the Congressman.
Murtha Earmarks Funded Garment Company’s Sonar Project
July 7, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
For the past several years, Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) has funneled more than $3 million in earmarks to a company in his district to build an underwater “swimmer detection” sonar system for the Navy to use to protect its docks and ships.
Portraits of Jefferson Diverge Sharply at Trial
June 17, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
On the first day of arguments in ex-Rep. William Jefferson’s (D-La.) criminal trial Tuesday, federal prosecutors and defense attorneys offered disparate portraits of the former lawmaker, as well as his family and his business deals.
Earmark Recipients Filled Dicks’ Coffers
June 17, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
Last year, Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Wash.) secured five defense earmarks for private companies in his hometown of Bremerton, Wash., worth a total of $10 million. Four of the companies shared something in common — they were all represented by the PMA Group, the now- defunct lobbying firm that has spurred an investigation of earmarks by the House ethics committee.
Missteps Mark Disclosure Reports
June 16, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.) may have suddenly and inexplicably become one of the richest Members of Congress last year.
Jefferson Case May Set Precedents
June 16, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
Although he is no longer a Member of the House, the outcome of ex-Rep. William Jefferson’s (D-La.) corruption trial could resonate on Capitol Hill with its potential to create stricter limits for future federal corruption investigations.
Majority Senses Ethics Reprieve
June 15, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
House Democrats breathed a sigh of relief last week when the ethics committee confirmed an investigation that likely centers on some of the party’s most senior appropriators. The reaction was a testament to the success of the Republican pressure campaign to keep the heat on Democrats for dragging their feet on confronting the mounting controversy.
Disclosures Cause Headaches
June 15, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
The devil really is in the details, at least when it comes to Congressional financial disclosure reports. Even before the House and Senate released lawmakers’ annual financial disclosures Friday, some Members had already filed amendments to the reports, which cover the 2008 calendar year.
McCrery Tapped as a Witness for Jefferson
June 10, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
Former Rep. Jim McCrery (R) will serve as an expert witness on behalf of fellow Louisianan and ex-Rep. William Jefferson (D) in his criminal corruption trial.
Murtha Apparently Moved Earmark Between Brother’s Clients
June 3, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
In early 2005, Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) apparently added language to a tsunami relief bill shifting $8.2 million from a former client of his brother’s lobbying firm to a new client of the same firm.
Senate Earmark Disclosure Varies Widely
May 20, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
Most Senators appear to be technically complying with the chamber’s earmark disclosure rules, but a lack of uniformity in how earmarks are reported can make it difficult to get an accurate picture of how the practice is being used by different Members.
Ethics Office Gets a Taste of Mass Complaints
May 20, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
In what is likely the first mass-mail appeal to the Office of Congressional Ethics to open an investigation, a conservative blog and its readership began distributing a form letter last week requesting a probe of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).
Ethics Panel Eyes Sánchez Sisters
The House ethics committee is reviewing whether the chamber’s rules were broken when Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.) put three of Rep. Loretta Sanchez’s
Argon Talks to Feds
May 14, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
At the request of the federal government, a Virginia-based defense contractor with close ties to Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) is providing information for a criminal investigation in Florida surrounding allegations that three men skimmed money from earmarks, according to sources familiar with the case.
Jefferson Appeal Is Before High Court
May 13, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
The Supreme Court on Thursday is scheduled to consider whether it will revisit constitutional Speech or Debate Clause protections under an appeal from ex-Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.).
The court could announce as early as Monday whether it will accept the case for its 2009-2010 session, which begins in October. Alternately, the court could delay its Thursday discussion of the case — although it would not cite a specific reason — and reschedule its conference for a later date.
Air Force Program Built on Earmarks
May 12, 2009, 1:00 A.M.
In 2006, the Air Force created a technology development program at a Florida air base with the understanding that it would cost no Air Force money to run. Instead, contractors who would be doing business with the new unit would lobby Congress for the earmarks to support its work.
Cardin: U.S. Needs to Keep Pace Developing Energy Technology
Feb. 8, 12 a.m.
Today, too many Americans are out of work. Today, we will send $1 billion overseas to satisfy our appetite for foreign oil, while the Chinese will continue their massive investment in clean energy technology. Today, our nation faces an economic crisis, an energy crisis and a global climate crisis. Read Full Article
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