Dozens Under House Ethics Investigations

Washington Post: Confidential Report Accidentally Exposed, Revealing Details About Congressmen Under Investigation

(Washington Post)  This story was written by Ellen Nakashima and Paul Kane.

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House ethics investigators have been scrutinizing the activities of more than 30 lawmakers and several aides in inquiries about issues including defense lobbying and corporate influence peddling, according to a confidential House ethics committee report prepared in July.

The report appears to have been inadvertently placed on a publicly accessible computer network, and it was provided to The Washington Post by a source not connected to the congressional investigations. The committee said Thursday night that the document was released by a low-level staffer.

The ethics committee is one of the most secretive panels in Congress, and its members and staff members sign oaths not to disclose any activities related to its past or present investigations. Watchdog groups have accused the committee of not actively pursuing inquiries; the newly disclosed document indicates the panel is conducting far more investigations than it had revealed.

7 Reps. on Same Panel Under Investigation

Shortly after 6 p.m. Thursday, the committee chairman, Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), interrupted a series of House votes to alert lawmakers about the breach. She cautioned that some of the panel's activities are preliminary and not a conclusive sign of inappropriate behavior.

"No inference should be made as to any member," she said.

Rep. Jo Bonner (Ala.), the committee's ranking Republican, said the breach was an isolated incident.

The 22-page "Committee on Standards Weekly Summary Report" gives brief summaries of ethics panel investigations of the conduct of 19 lawmakers and a few staff members. It also outlines the work of the new Office of Congressional Ethics, a quasi-independent body that initiates investigations and provides recommendations to the ethics committee. The document indicated that the office was reviewing the activities of 14 other lawmakers. Some were under review by both ethics bodies.
A broader inquiry

Ethics committee investigations are not uncommon. Most result in private letters that either exonerate or reprimand a member. In some rare instances, the censure is more severe.

Many of the broad outlines of the cases cited in the July document are known -- the committee announced over the summer that it was reviewing lawmakers with connections to the now-closed PMA Group, a lobbying firm. But the document indicates that the inquiry was broader than initially believed. It included a review of seven lawmakers on the House Appropriations defense subcommittee who have steered federal money to the firm's clients and have also received large campaign contributions.

The document also disclosed that:

-- Ethics committee staff members have interviewed House Ways and Means Chairman Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.) about one element of the complex investigation of his personal finances, as well as the lawmaker's top aide and his son. Rangel said he spoke with ethics committee staff members regarding a conference that he and four other members of the Congressional Black Caucus attended last November in St. Martin. The trip initially was said to be sponsored by a nonprofit foundation run by a newspaper. But the three-day event, at a luxury resort, was underwritten by major corporations such as Citigroup, Pfizer and AT&T. Rules passed in 2007, shortly after Democrats reclaimed the majority following a wave of corruption cases against Republicans, bar private companies from paying for congressional travel.

Rangel said he has not discussed other parts of the investigation of his finances with the committee. "I'm waiting for that, anxiously," he said.

Dubious Accounting Shadows Top Democrat
Ethics Committee Expands Rangel Inquiry

-- The Justice Department has told the ethics panel to suspend a probe of Rep. Alan B. Mollohan (D-W.Va.), whose personal finances federal investigators began reviewing in early 2006 after complaints from a conservative group that he was not fully revealing his real estate holdings. There has been no public action on that inquiry for several years. But the department's request in early July to the committee suggests that the case continues to draw the attention of federal investigators, who often ask that the House and Senate ethics panels refrain from taking action against members whom the department is already investigating.

Mollohan said that he was not aware of any ongoing interest by the Justice Department in his case and that he and his attorneys have not heard from federal investigators. "The answer is no," he said.

-- The committee on June 9 authorized issuance of subpoenas to the Justice Department, the National Security Agency and the FBI for "certain intercepted communications" regarding Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.). As was reported earlier this year, Harman was heard in a 2005 conversation agreeing to an Israeli operative's request to try to obtain leniency for two pro-Israel lobbyists in exchange for the agent's help in lobbying House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to name her chairman of the intelligence committee. The department, a former U.S. official said, declined to respond to the subpoena.

Harman said that the ethics committee has not contacted her and that she has no knowledge that the subpoena was ever issued. "I don't believe that's true," she said. "As far as I'm concerned, this smear has been over for three years."

In June 2009, a Justice Department official wrote in a letter to an attorney for Harman that she was "neither a subject nor a target" of a criminal investigation.

Because of the secretive nature of the ethics committee, it was difficult to assess the current status of the investigations cited in the July document. The panel said Thursday, however, that it is ending a probe of Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) after finding no ethical violations, and that it is investigating the financial connections of two California Democrats.

The committee did not detail the two newly disclosed investigations. However, according to the July document, Rep. Maxine Waters, a high-ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee, came under scrutiny because of activities involving OneUnited Bank of Massachusetts, in which her husband owns at least $250,000 in stock.

Waters arranged a September 2008 meeting at the Treasury Department where OneUnited executives asked for government money. In December, Treasury selected OneUnited as an early participant in the bank bailout program, injecting $12.1 million.

The other, Rep. Laura Richardson, may have failed to mention property, income and liabilities on financial disclosure forms.
File-sharing

The committee's review of investigations became available on file-sharing networks because of a junior staff member's use of the software while working from home, Lofgren and Bonner said in a statement issued Thursday night. The staffer was fired, a congressional aide said.

The committee "is taking all appropriate steps to deal with this issue," they said, noting that neither the committee nor the House's information systems were breached in any way.

"Peer-to-peer" technology has previously caused inadvertent breaches of sensitive financial, defense-related and personal data from government and commercial networks, and it is prohibited on House networks.

House administration rules require that if a lawmaker or staff member takes work home, "all users of House sensitive information must protect the confidentiality of sensitive information" from unauthorized disclosure.

Leo Wise, chief counsel for the Office of Congressional Ethics, declined to comment, citing office policy against confirming or denying the existence of investigations. A Justice Department spokeswoman also declined to comment, citing a similar policy.

Staff writers Carol D. Leonnig and Joby Warrick and staff researcher Julie Tate contributed to this report.

[gboyd41]

Rangel-would you buy a used car from this man? Yet,this is a man who has a great deal to say about the taxes we pay! When I was young, I used to read Superman. This reminds me of a Bizarro Superman, who looks like Al Sharpton!

[gboyd41]

stn_sage-Correct, this should be a Justice Dept. issue. Does anyone want to guess why this remians in Congress?

[skip-cburg]

They are all a bunch of crook's....lock-em all up and throw away the key

[apachekid]

The report appears to have been inadvertently placed on a publicly accessible computer network, and it was provided to The Washington Post by a source not connected to the congressional investigations. The committee said Thursday night that the document was released by a low-level staffer.


It appears that the Congressional Investigation Team appointed by Obama was not being very transparent again. They were hoping to keep the investigation quiet & behind closed doors like Obamacare, until it blew over. Sure BO make that low-level staffer out to be a criminal or was it another right wing conspiracy?

[hungry1968-17]

House administration rules require that if a lawmaker or staff member takes work home, "all users of House sensitive information must protect the confidentiality of sensitive information" from unauthorized disclosure.






Protect it?!?!

By putting it on Limewire?!?!


You've GOT to be shi**ing me!!!!

[noloyalisti]

We have one sick and twisted, corrupt country here. Just another example of big money and big corporations owning and running the government. It explains why we can;t get real health care reform and are bombing or financing bombing terror in 4 countries in the Middle East and Asia.

[pubsrtoast]

The committee's review of investigations became available on file-sharing networks because of a junior staff member's use of the software while working from home, Lofgren and Bonner said in a statement issued Thursday night. The staffer was fired, a congressional aide said.
-----------------------------------------------------------

As someone who has had their own personal data stolen when a low level VA staffer took his "work" home all I can say is BWAHAHAHAHA, it serves the jerks right.

[velma179]

You know, I find the WORST part of this whole situation is that a LOW LEVEL staffer was able to take their work home.

It really makes me wonder how much oversight is occurring on a daily basis.

Sheesh -- I sure hope the Defense Department doesn't let THEIR low level staffers take work home.

[velma179]

The article only mentions the names of Reps under investigation where the public is ALREADY aware of the probes.

Four Dems are mentioned by name (plus one and one Repub .. where cases are not currently active).

The article mentions 30 Reps (plus staffers) under investigation, so according to this piece, we have no idea what the political affiliation is for 26(+) individuals.

The Ethics Committee has ALWAYS been very secretive, this has nothing to do with which party is in the majority during any given Congress.

The Chairwoman, a Democrat made the leak known to Congress and that went public -- nobody has hidden any information other than the longstanding procedural secrecy of the Ethics Committee.


Point -- Saying the Democrats or the Republicans are worse on matters of ethics is never going to be a winnable argument. ALL of our Reps (unfortunately) can fall under the spell of money and power and forget who it is they SHOULD be answering to... us, the US-A!

[stuart-johns2]

You're right again.

[Iamthemango]

"The committee said Thursday night that the document was released by a low-level staffer."
________________________________


well there goes another one of those 650k jobs created by the stimulus.

[choptopford]

One more thing going to hell .They want us all to shut up and be good little lambs

[brianbwb-2009]

I still nurse a small spark of hope, as I believe that some got where they are hoping to really make life better for their people, but also got caught in the unaviodable trap.

Such people are probably wishing that we as a people would overcome all the forces of division, racism, intolerance, poliutical and economic discrimination, and give them the tools they need to fight the corruption, but on the right you have those who want a government like Mexico, too weak to fight the biggest domestic threats, and those on the left, who want to continue to make money from those who oppose the fascism of the right.

But since that will never happen, they give up, and milk the system for all they can, and hope they will make enough to jump ship when the anarchy starts.

[lightningF]

Congress investigating congress,is that not like hiring the Fox to watch the Hen House? What power do they really have,after Chris Dodd walked from his sweetheart deal he got from Nation wide,it all starts to smell fishy,and After a year of investigating Charles Rangel you would think they could come up with a conclusion,especially since he still is stealing from the Tax Payer.

[brianbwb-2009]

If you know it, but can or will do nothing about it, it isn't stealing anymore, it is forfeit.

[In-God-We-Trust]

To brianbwb-2009: Taking something that is not yours is ALWAYS WRONG. A secondary reaction of defense or retailiation is not required to make the first act WRONG. Ethics are not situational, they are wrong whether someone is watching or not.

[stn_sage]

The idea of Congress investigation Congress is to PROTECT members from trial and then jail!

If all these matters were processed as if they were normal citizens by the Justice Department, MOST of these people would be in jail right now!

The only members of Congress that get convicted are the ones that the other 'members' step away from and place on the alter to be the 'sacrificial goat'! Probably, because they went 'too far', have offended too many members, or it's politically expedient!

But, this is another area that NEEDS to be entirely done away with and turned over to the Justice Department...period!

[brianbwb-2009]

26 comments below this one, and all miss one important factor, the amounts of money being spread around, either in-kind, cash, or other means.

For one million dollars, anyone in the US can be killed, including the president, and what we are seeing here are amounts far in excess of this.

So to any of you "armchair pundits" commenting here, I pose the following question.

If your choices were between accepting a multi-million dollar bribe, or having a fraction of that money paid to assassinate you or your loved ones, which would you choose?

Are you so naive as to think it cannot happen in the USA? There are two dead Kennedys that would beg to differ, if they were not so busy being dead.

Why else do you think we are still involved in two illegal wars?

President Obama knows better than most of the illegality and unconstitutionality of our current foreign policy vis-a-vis Iraq and Afghanistan, but he also knows what will happen if he suddenly kills the $10billion-per-month cash cow for the war profiteers, he and his family would be dead within minutes, from the automobile ash-tray change of George Schultz.

Sure, they are all crooked, every last one of them. No one even gets near that level of society without being so, and you all know it,

Remember this, most of you, both "right" and "left" wing voted at some time in the past for politicians who advocated measures that together advance a system that places the value of currency over the value of life.

And now you complain that you got what you voted for?

[stn_sage]

Excellent comments, brianbwb-2009! I couldn't agree with you more!

Anyone who has read my comments over time...knows I'm critical of politicians from BOTH major parties...for the reason(s) you cite:
primarily that they're 'bought off' crooks!

This past year has made this reality even MORE evident! As many issues have been AVOIDED, and those dealt with have been decided in favor of corporate America's best interest, and AGAINST the public's interest!

Since this IS the case, things voters can do: 1. complain about it to your reps. 2. take an active part in your communities political life.
3. make an effort to STAY INFORMED about what's going on! 4. support OTHER party candidates beside the Democrat or Republican! 5. get behind petitions requesting TERM LIMITS for Federal officeholders, and 6. Vote AGAINST incumbents...kick the bums out!

Certainly, there are other things you can do...this is just a starter list! Use your imagination. We're getting closer and closer to the point where 'we' citizens are being FORCED to step forward and fight these people who have become tyrants against us!

Voters in Virginia and New Jersey will have the opportunity to 'lead the way' next week in their state elections! Your vote is NO LONGER 'just' about selecting someone to fill an office...it's MORE than that...it may very well be about protecting your way of life!

So, remember to get out there next week...good luck!

Good post, brian!

[brianbwb-2009]

To stn_sage

The problem is deeper than the corruption of sitting politicians, and won't be solved by cleaning them all out, I will give first-hand witness as to why this is so.

In Indonesia, under the iron hand of former president Suharto, many complained about the corruption of his sons and daughter, they hoped, prayed, and silently worked for his ouster.

When it came, a lot of his cronies were also forced out, but the problem grew exponentially worse, until today, many, if not most, who called for Suharto's ouster now long for those former days, because the new crop of politicians is even more corrupt, wishing to make overnight what it took Suharto 30 years to amass.

The difference was like that between a hungry jackal, and a full one, the new crop are the hungry ones.

The real enemy is the large businesses, and their powerful bosses who make the offer the politicians cannot refuse, get rich, or die. The same will continue even if every current politician is replaced.

Somehow we have to ID, and get to the ones holding the strings, the George Schultzes, and Bush Sr.s, the Cheneys, the Saudis, the Israelis, and all the others, whose corruption funding has become the problem the politicians dare not even attempt to solve.

These are America's real enemies, not Islam, not Iraq, not Iran, not Afghanistan or North Korea. Our problem with corruption won't dissapear until they do.

[stn_sage]

to brianbwb-2009:

I agree! We just need to elect citizens who can't be 'bought off'!
That negates, corporate America and lobbyists!

Can you imagine the 40-50,000 lobbyists sitting around in Washington D.C. because the Congresspeople wouldn't see them or take their bribes?

They'd have a FIT! We'd probably also have a much better functioning government than what we have now! I doubt it would be worse!

[trillion1]

Wait and see how many get reelected. It's always 'Everyone is a crook but my represenitive.'.

[brianbwb-2009]

Do you really believe that getting the most votes has anything to do with who secures the office?

Even after Bush 2000?

True representative democracy never actually existed in the US, only the illusion thereof.

[faceofus]

This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. Regardless of party politicians are nothing but a bunch of crooks.

[dontknowitall]

Makes one wonder what exactly is being taught in our colleges and universities. Screw thy neighbor?

[docpeter1953]

Why can't they just expel and/or prohibit all lobbyists from contacting any member of the HOR or Senate, their family, friends and staff ? Make it a felony if they do and send them to Leavenworth KN. for 15 years.

If a member of the HOR or senate takes a "campaign contribution" from these lobbyists they get to go to Leavenworth for life. Think that would stop any of these folks?

I could easily agree to this law/rule.

[RandomUser1886]

They could expell the lobbyists from Congress, but they'd just go work for Obama with the other 20 some lobbyists he already has.

[bobnjersey]

[Why can't they just expel and/or prohibit all lobbyists from contacting any member of the HOR or Senate, their family, friends and staff ? I could easily agree to this law/rule. ]

where's the line between an 'advocate' for representing a legitimate interest ... and a lobbyist who's trying to 'game' the system?

how would anyone's interests be represented if you removed all means for anyone to contact a representative?

[hungry1968-17]

by Empire_George October 30, 2009 10:54 AM EDT
hungry1968-17, maybe it would be better to "rebuke" his stance with something that actually defended or disputed his claims about the democrats.....bringing up Bush, when discussing the Obama administration is intellectually shallow and shows you have no defense for the Ethics Violations, other then "But Bush did...blah, blah....blah







FOR THE SECOND TIME -- how is this in any way, shape, or form, related to Obama?

The ONLY place that "Obama" appears on this page, is in YOUR post(s).

So why are YOU ranting on about Obama and his administration, but crying and whining when I do it about Bush? (At least you roundly admit that you're 'intellectually shallow'.)

F off - hypocrite.

[Empire_George]

hungry1968-17, in a way you are right, this mostly involves the Democrat party and not Obama specifically....Nor did he even mention Obama other then using the word "transparency" which to you meant "Obama" and then claiming he "brought up Obama" when he didn't.

he said " The culture of arrogance is now on display because so much effort is being made to hush it all up." which is true, people like Charles Rangel, should have been up on charges long ago, but it's kept hush-hush....do you at least agree about House Representatives like Rangel ?

[Empire_George]

hungry1968-17, also, why are you cursing at me when I'm trying to discuss this article with you ? isn't that a little rude ?

[jsd330]

Dems, Repubs makes no difference they both think they are above the law. This will all be swept under the carpet, as are most of these investigations. The blame is on the individual not on any party. Of course the die hard Dems and Repubs are the only ones that worry about keeping score.

[Biggest_Rick]

It is a hoot to see the hungry seem to be so thirsty for cherry and lemon-lime drinks in a dixie cup. The corrupt in this case are mostly democrats. Not to say Republicans are never corrupt, a couple of them are in jail for their corruption over the last few years but ANY politician that is dirty and in this case its several ranking democrats and they should face the same punishment. If you bother to read the article, you will find this ethics report was leaked by ACCIDENT.

[hungry1968-17]

by Empire_George October 30, 2009 10:37 AM EDT
Hungry1968-17, May I ask why you brought up Bush, when the person posting was discussing Obama and his lack of transparency ? Do you typically use Bush as a defense for everything wrong with Obama or Democrats ?







Right back at you: How is this in any way shape or form, related to Obama?

And if there is a lack of transparency by the democrats, and they're "hushing everything up", then how are we here reading and discussing it?

My response to his post, was a rebuke of his "anti-democrat" stance, when the republicans are FAR, FAR, FAR worse than the democrats could EVER be.

[Empire_George]

hungry1968-17, maybe it would be better to "rebuke" his stance with something that actually defended or disputed his claims about the democrats.....bringing up Bush, when discussing the Obama administration is intellectually shallow and shows you have no defense for the Ethics Violations, other then "But Bush did...blah, blah....blah

[docpeter1953]

RE: Hungry, "And if there is a lack of transparency by the democrats, and they're "hushing everything up", then how are we here reading and discussing it?"

___________________________

Uh it was inadvertently leaked out by someone's staffer?

[spillover]

My response to his post, was a rebuke of his "anti-democrat" stance, when the republicans are FAR, FAR, FAR worse than the democrats could EVER be.

Areyou kidding me.

[hungry1968-17]

by Biggest_Rick October 30, 2009 9:51 AM EDT
Such transparency! Such upright honest behavior! Funny how so many of these being investigated are Democrats. The culture of arrogance is now on display because so much effort is being made to hush it all up.






If it's being "hushed up", then how exactly are we hearing about it?

The "no bid contracts" under the Bush regime? Now THERE was a cover up!!!

[Empire_George]

Hungry1968-17, May I ask why you brought up Bush, when the person posting was discussing Obama and his lack of transparency ? Do you typically use Bush as a defense for everything wrong with Obama or Democrats ?

[rightbehind]

republicans are trying to get a footing. Too little too late. With all they have to offer such as; hedge funds, credit default swaps, derivatives, speculators, speculation, and bailouts. My guess is they are standing on a banana peel at the edge of the 2010 election cliff. As for the democrats under investigation if found guilty we need to replace them with more democrats.

[chevyhotrod]

rightbehind,

Lean the truth behind the crash. See video of CSPAN below from 2004 & 2005.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BIWolWKsO0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMnSp4qEXNM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-_HlpZ8azA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALAIEYq5Y00


Who is standing on the banana peel? We shall see and it starts next week, not 2010.

Anyone should be prosecuted, left or right. Way hasn't anyone gone to jail over what happened? Look who's in charge????

Ignorance is our most expensive commodity.