Another GOPer being investigated...

Ethics panel expands probe into Arizona Rep. Schweikert

By JOHN BRESNAHAN

The House Ethics Committee announced on Thursday that it was expanding its investigation into allegations surrounding Arizona Republican Rep. David Schweikert over his dealings with a former top aide, Oliver Schwab.

Schweikert has repeatedly tried to downplay the scandal, calling it a matter of “clerical mistakes.” Yet despite Schweikert’s claims, his ethics problems continue to grow more serious.

The Ethics Committee — after an investigation by the Office of Congressional Ethics, the independent ethics watchdog — launched a formal probe earlier this year into allegations Schweikert misspent official funds and received illegal campaign contributions from Schwab and other employees, according to a statement from the secretive panel.

Now, following additional findings by OCE, the Ethics Committee has widened its probe of the four-term congressman.

According to a statement released on Thursday, the Ethics Committee will look into whether “Representative Schweikert may have used official resources to benefit his campaign or pressured congressional staff to perform political activity”; if Schweikert “authorized compensation to an employee who did not perform duties commensurate with his House employment”; whether Schweikert or his campaign committee “received loans or gifts from a congressional employee”; and whether Schweikert failed to include information on his annual financial disclosure reports or Federal Election Commission filings.

Schweikert’s press secretary on Thursday stated that “we look forward to providing any information necessary to the Ethics Committee to resolve this matter.”

Schweikert’s ethics problems are the result of tens of thousands of dollars in payments to a Schwab-owned consulting firm, and whether those payments violated House ethics rules. The payments potentially exceeded the limit for outside income earned by senior congressional aides. In 2014, Schwab’s consulting firm, Chartwell Associates, received more than $109,000 in consulting fees. Schwab was the firm’s only employee, and under House rules the limit on outside income for a congressional staffer was just under $27,000 that year.

Schwab left Schweikert’s staff in July after working there for seven years. Schwab also repaid Schweikert’s campaign more than $50,000 earlier this year, according to a campaign disclosure report.

In June, the Ethics Committee voted to create a special four-member panel to look into the Schweikert case. Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) is chairman of the investigative subcommittee, while Steve Cohen (D-Tenn) is the ranking member. Reps. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) and Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) are the other two members of the special panel.

An investigative subcommittee has the power to issue subpoenas as part of its examination. The special panel will make a recommendation on the matter to the full Ethics Committee. The bipartisan 10-member panel can impose a wide range of sanctions, including monetary fines, censure or even expulsion. The full House would have to vote on more serious sanctions.

There is no time limit on an Ethics Committee investigation, but if it lasts into the next Congress — as appears will happen now — the panel will have to vote to continue the case.