[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Pages 472-473]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ETHICS 112TH CONGRESS

  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, the Honest Leadership and Open Government 
Act of 2007, the ``Act'', calls for the Select Committee on Ethics of 
the U.S. Senate to issue an annual report not later than January 31 of 
each year providing information in certain categories describing its 
activities for the preceding year. Reported below is the information 
describing the committee's activities in 2011 in the categories set 
forth in the act:

       (1) The number of alleged violations of Senate rules 
     received from any source, including the number raised by a 
     Senator or staff of the Committee: 77. (In addition, 3 
     alleged violations from the previous year were carried into 
     2011.)
       (2) The number of alleged violations that were dismissed--
       (A) For lack of subject matter jurisdiction or in which, 
     even if the allegations in the complaint are true, no 
     violation of Senate rules would exist: 58.
       (B) Because they failed to provide sufficient facts as to 
     any material violation of the Senate rules beyond mere 
     allegation or assertion: 14.
       (3) The number of alleged violations for which the 
     Committee staff conducted a preliminary inquiry: 08. (This 
     figure includes 3 matters from the previous year carried into 
     2011.)
       (4) The number of alleged violations for which the 
     Committee staff conducted a preliminary inquiry that resulted 
     in an adjudicatory review: 0.
       (5) The number of alleged violations for which the 
     Committee staff conducted a preliminary inquiry and the 
     Committee dismissed the matter for lack of substantial merit: 
     05. (This figure includes 2 matters from the previous year 
     carried into 2011.)
       (6) The number of alleged violations for which the 
     Committee staff conducted a preliminary inquiry and the 
     Committee issued private or public letters of admonition: 0.
       (7) The number of matters resulting in a disciplinary 
     sanction: 0.
       (8) Any other information deemed by the Committee to be 
     appropriate to describe its activities in the previous year:
       In 2011, the Committee continued its preliminary inquiry 
     into the conduct of Senator John Ensign. An outside Special 
     Counsel was appointed to assist the Ethics Committee staff 
     with its fact finding regarding whether Senator John Ensign 
     violated Senate rules and federal law. As noted in the Report 
     of the Preliminary Inquiry into the Matter of Senator John E. 
     Ensign released by the Committee, the Special Counsel 
     determined that there was substantial credible evidence that 
     Senator Ensign engaged in violations of law and Senate rules. 
     The Special Counsel concluded that the evidence that would 
     have been presented in an adjudicatory hearing would have 
     been substantial and sufficient to warrant the consideration 
     of the sanction of expulsion had Senator Ensign not resigned. 
     The Committee lost jurisdiction over Senator Ensign because 
     he resigned his United States Senate seat. The Committee 
     referred the matter to the U.S. Department of Justice and 
     Federal Election Commission for further review.
       In 2011, the Committee staff conducted 6 new Member ethics 
     training sessions; 14 employee code of conduct training 
     sessions; 15 Member and committee office campaign briefings; 
     42 ethics seminars for Member DC offices, state offices and 
     Senate committees; 3 private sector ethics briefings; and 8 
     international ethics briefings.
       In 2011, the Committee staff handled approximately 10,918 
     telephone inquiries and 1,745 inquiries by email for ethics 
     advice and guidance.
       In 2011, the Committee wrote approximately 800 ethics 
     advisory letters and responses including, but not limited to, 
     594 travel and gifts matters (Senate Rule 35) and 104 
     conflict of interest matters (Senate Rule 37).
       In 2011, the Committee issued 4,130 letters concerning 
     financial disclosure filings by Senators, Senate staff and 
     Senate candidates and reviewed 1,869 reports.

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