1 Union Calendar No. 892 115TH CONGRESS " 2d Session HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ! REPORT 115–1125 SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES ONE HUNDRED FIFTEENTH CONGRESS R E P O R T OF THE COMMITTEE ON ETHICS U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE WASHINGTON 33–969 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:17 Jan 09, 2019 Jkt 033969 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4012 : 2019 Sfmt 4012 E:\HR\OC\HR1125.XXX HR1125 E:\Seals\Congress.#13 dlhill on DSK3GLQ082PROD with HEARING JANUARY 2, 2019.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed 36 the scope and nature of the violations, and determined them to be ones for which review by an ISC was not warranted. On December 21, 2017, the Committee submitted a Report to the House describing the facts and its findings regarding this matter. In the Matter of Allegations Relating to Representative Jim Renacci On August 9, 2018, the OCE forwarded to the Committee a Report and Findings regarding Representative Jim Renacci. At the conclusion of the 115th Congress, the Committee had not completed its investigation into this matter. Representative Renacci did not run for reelection to the House for the 116th Congress, and the Committee will not have jurisdiction over him after January 3, 2019. In the Matter of Allegations Relating to Representative Bobby L. Rush 38 On June 10, 2014, the OCE forwarded to the Committee a Report and Findings in which it recommended further review of allegations that Representative Bobby L. Rush may have violated House rules and standards of conduct when he received unpaid usage of office space. The OCE Report and Findings recommended dismissal of separate allegations that Representative Rush improperly converted campaign funds to personal use. The Committee released the OCE Report and Findings, along with Representative Rush’s response, on November 10, 2014, and noted in a public statement that the Committee was continuing to review the allegations pursuant to Committee Rule 18(a). Following its investigation, the Committee concluded that Representative Rush accepted a gift of rent-free office space, in violation of House rules and federal law. The Committee determined Representative Rush exceeded the gift limit by $14,610. The Committee concluded that Representative Rush did not violate laws or House Rules that prohibit the conversion of campaign funds to personal use. On March 22, 2018, the Committee submitted a Report to the House describing the facts and its findings in the matter and reproving Representative Rush. In its Report, the Committee found that Representative Rush must repay the value of the impermissible gift within six weeks of the publication of the Report. On May 18, 2018, Representative Rush provided a check in the amount of $14,610 to the U.S. Treasury. dlhill on DSK3GLQ082PROD with HEARING In the Matter of Allegations Relating to Representative David Schweikert On April 16, 2018, the OCE forwarded to the Committee a Report and Findings in which it recommended further review of allegations that Representative David Schweikert and his then-Chief of Staff, Richard Oliver Schwab, may have authorized the misuse of or misused Representative Schweikert’s MRA, Representative Schweikert may have failed to ensure that his campaign committees complied with applicable rules regarding contributions from congressional employees, Mr. Schwab may have improperly made 38 Comm. on Ethics, In the Matter of Allegations Relating to Representative Bobby L. Rush, H. Rept. 115–618, 115th Cong. 2d Sess. (2018). VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:17 Jan 09, 2019 Jkt 033969 PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR1125.XXX HR1125 37 personal outlays on behalf of Representative Schweikert’s principal campaign committees, and Mr. Schwab may have received income beyond the outside earned income limit for senior staff. On June 14, 2018, the Committee unanimously voted to establish an ISC to determine whether Representative Schweikert or Mr. Schwab violated the Code of Official Conduct or any law, rule, regulation or other applicable standard of conduct in the performance of their duties or the discharge of their responsibilities, with respect to allegations forming the basis for the OCE’s referral. On July 9, 2018, Mr. Schwab left House employment after resigning from his position as Representative Schweikert’s Chief of Staff. On the date of Mr. Schwab’s resignation, the ISC’s and the Committee’s jurisdiction over Mr. Schwab ended. On December 20, 2018, the Committee unanimously voted to expand the ISC’s jurisdiction to include allegations that (1) Representative Schweikert may have used official resources to benefit his campaign or pressured congressional staff to perform political activity; (2) Representative Schweikert may have authorized compensation to an employee who did not perform duties commensurate with his House employment; (3) Representative Schweikert or his campaign committee may have received loans or gifts from a congressional employee; and (4) Representative Schweikert may have omitted required information from his annual House financial disclosure statements and Federal Election Commission candidate committee reports. As of the conclusion of the 115th Congress, the ISC had not completed its investigation into this matter. Representative Schweikert was reelected to the House for the 116th Congress. dlhill on DSK3GLQ082PROD with HEARING In the Matter of Allegations Relating to Representative Roger Williams 39 On May 13, 2016, the OCE forwarded to the Committee a Report and Findings in which it recommended further review of allegations that Representative Roger Williams may have violated federal law, House rules, and other standards of conduct when he took an official action on a matter affecting his personal financial interest in an automobile dealership, by offering an amendment to certain surface transportation reauthorization legislation in the 114th Congress (the Williams Amendment). The Committee released the OCE Report and Findings, along with Representative Williams’ response, on August 11, 2016, and noted in a public statement that the Committee was continuing to review the allegations pursuant to Committee Rule 18(a). On August 1, 2017, the Committee submitted a Report to the House describing the facts and its findings in this matter, as well as its determination to take no further action in this matter. In its Report, the Committee concluded that, while the Williams Amendment could have affected Representative Williams’ personal financial interests, his actions in offering the amendment did not create a reasonable inference of inappropriate conduct. However, the Committee found that Representative Williams should have consulted the Committee for guidance, to identify in advance any 39 Comm. on Ethics, In the Matter of Allegations Relating to Representative Roger Williams, H. Rept. 115–271, 115th Cong. 1st Sess. (2017). VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:17 Jan 09, 2019 Jkt 033969 PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR1125.XXX HR1125