Two ethics probes

Garrett targeted in two ethics probes

Investigators are looking into misuse of staff time and alcohol use.

By JOHN BRESNAHAN

Rep. Tom Garrett is the subject of two separate investigations by the House Ethics Committee and Office of Congressional Ethics, including questions over whether his drinking impacted the Virginia Republican’s ability to do his job, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Investigators are looking into allegations that Garrett and his wife improperly ordered congressional aides to conduct personal errands for them while on official time. These errands allegedly included picking up groceries, chauffeuring Garrett’s daughters to and from his Virginia district, fetching clothes that the congressman forgot at his Washington apartment, or even cleaning up after his dog. House ethics rules prohibit lawmakers from using staff for anything other than official congressional duties.

Garrett’s use of alcohol or other substances is a focus of both probes as well, said the sources. Investigators are trying to determine if Garrett’s alcohol use interfered with his work as a lawmaker.

Neither the Ethics Committee nor OCE investigations have been disclosed previously.

In a statement on Monday, Garrett’s office confirmed the multiple ethics probes while once again launching into an attack on the media, including POLITICO, which first reported on the allegations surrounding improper use of congressional staffers and which paved the way for his decision to retire.

“Congressman Garrett has broken no laws and comported himself in an ethical manner. POLITICO’s original story was populated with half-truths and whole lies,” Garrett's office said in a statement.

“Now, confidential inquiries have been made public by those not satisfied by the outcome of previous smear attempts. When Garrett is cleared on any legal wrongdoing, we wonder whether the DC character assassins will be in such a hurry to run a story. We are doubtful.”

In his May 28 retirement announcement — which came amid a growing scandal that threatened to sink his reelection bid — Garrett admitted that he was an alcoholic and would seek help for his drinking problem.

“The recent attacks on my family are a series of half-truths and whole lies,” Garrett said. “But there’s one area where I haven’t been honest. The tragedy is that any person Republican, Democrat or independent who’s known me for period of time and has any integrity knows two things: I am a good man and I am an alcoholic.”

The 46-year-old Garrett, a freshman and member of the hardline House Freedom Caucus, had become a problem for the Republican leadership before his retirement announcement. GOP officials even discussed whether to seek to oust him when it became clear his behavior was “erratic,” in the words of one former aide.

Garrett was elected to Congress in 2016 following a four-year stint in the Virginia Senate. A Virginia native, Garrett served in the U.S. Army from 1995-2000. Upon leaving the military, Garrett became an assistant attorney general in Va. in 2002. In 2008, Garrett became Louisa County commonwealth attorney, a position he held until his election to the Virginia legislature.