[House Report 116-703]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


                                                 Union Calendar No. 586
116th Congress     }                                    {       Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session        }                                    {      116-703
_______________________________________________________________________

                                   

                         SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES

                     ONE HUNDRED SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

                               __________

                              R E P O R T

                                 of the

                          COMMITTEE ON ETHICS

		
		
		[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
		
		


 December 31, 2020.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on 
            the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
            
            
                               __________
            
            
            	     U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
	    
42-824 			     WASHINGTON : 2020




            
            
                          COMMITTEE ON ETHICS

THEODORE E. DEUTCH, Florida          KENNY MARCHANT, Texas
Chairman                             Ranking Member
GRACE MENG, New York                 GEORGE HOLDING, North Carolina
SUSAN WILD, Pennsylvania             JACKIE WALORSKI, Indiana
DEAN PHILLIPS, Minnesota             MICHAEL GUEST, Mississippi
ANTHONY BROWN, Maryland

                              REPORT STAFF

              Thomas A. Rust, Chief Counsel/Staff Director
               Donna Herbert, Director of Administration
             Brittney Pescatore, Director of Investigations
             Tonya Sloans, Director of Financial Disclosure
             Tonia Smith, Director of Advice and Education
                 David Arrojo, Counsel to the Chairman
           Christopher Donesa, Counsel to the Ranking Member

                    Danielle Appleman, Investigator
                George Korn, Financial Disclosure Clerk
                    Melissa Epstein, Staff Assistant
                  Caroline Taylor, Investigative Clerk
                Kathryn Lefeber Donahue, Senior Counsel
                      Tamar Nedzar, Senior Counsel
                         Janet Foster, Counsel
                        C. Ezekiel Ross, Counsel
                         Michelle Seo, Counsel
                          
                          
                          LETTER OF SUBMITTAL

                          House of Representatives,
                                       Committee on Ethics,
                                 Washington, DC, December 31, 2020.
Hon. Cheryl L. Johnson,
Clerk, House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Ms. Johnson: Pursuant to clauses 3(a)(2) and 3(b) of 
Rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, we 
herewith transmit the attached Report, ``Summary of Activities 
116th Congress.''
    Sincerely,
                                   Theodore E. Deutch,
                                           Chairman.
                                   Kenny Marchant,
                                           Ranking Member.
                                           
                                           
                                           
                            C O N T E N T S

  I. INTRODUCTION.....................................................3
 II. ADVICE AND EDUCATION.............................................3
III. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE............................................11
 IV. COMMITTEE RULES.................................................13
  V. COVID-19 RESPONSE...............................................13
 VI. INVESTIGATIONS..................................................14
APPENDIX I: RELEVANT HOUSE RULES.................................    29
APPENDIX II: ADVISORY MEMORANDA..................................    41
APPENDIX III: COMMITTEE RULES....................................   195
APPENDIX IV: PUBLIC STATEMENTS...................................   247




                                                 Union Calendar No. 586
116th Congress    }                                   {        Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session       }                                   {       116-703

======================================================================



 
                         SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES


                     ONE HUNDRED SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

                                _______
                                

December 31, 2020--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

      Mr. Deutch and Mr. Marchant, from the Committee on Ethics, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                                Overview

    The Committee on Ethics (Committee) is tasked with 
interpreting and enforcing the House's ethics rules. The 
Committee has sole jurisdiction over the interpretation of the 
Code of Official Conduct, which governs the acts of House 
Members, officers, and employees. The Committee is the only 
standing House committee with equal numbers of Democratic and 
Republican Members. The operative staff of the Committee is 
required by rule to be professional and nonpartisan.
    In the 116th Congress, the Committee was led by Chairman 
Theodore E. Deutch and Ranking Member Kenny Marchant. The 
Members appointed at the beginning of the Congress were Grace 
Meng, John Ractliffe, Susan Wild, George Holding, Dean 
Phillips, Jackie Walorski, Anthony Brown, and Michael Guest. In 
May 2020, John Ratcliffe left the Committee and was not 
replaced.
    The Committee's core responsibilities include providing 
training, advice, and education to House Members, officers, and 
employees; reviewing and approving requests to accept 
privately-sponsored travel related to official duties; 
reviewing and certifying all financial disclosure reports 
Members, candidates for the House, officers, and senior staff 
are required to file; and investigating and adjudicating 
allegations of misconduct and violations of rules, laws, or 
other standards of conduct.
    The Committee met 19 times in the 116th Congress, including 
10 times in 2019 and 9 times in 2020.
    Within the scope of its training, advice and education, 
travel, and financial disclosure responsibilities, the 
Committee:
           Issued more than 730 formal advisory 
        opinions regarding ethics rules;
           Reviewed and approved more than 3,000 
        requests to accept privately-sponsored, officially-
        connected travel;
           Fielded nearly 37,000 informal telephone 
        calls, emails, and in-person requests for guidance on 
        ethics issues;
           Released 28 advisory memoranda on various 
        ethics topics to the House;
           Provided training to over 7,000 House 
        Members, officers, and employees each year, and 
        reviewed their certifications for satisfying the 
        House's mandatory training requirements;
           Received nearly 6,000 Financial Disclosure 
        Statements and amendments filed by House Members, 
        officers, senior staff, and House candidates; and
           Received more than 4,000 Periodic 
        Transaction Reports filed by House Members, officers, 
        and senior staff, containing thousands of transactions.
    In addition, the Committee actively investigates 
allegations against House Members, officers, and employees, 
using a mix of investigative techniques to determine the 
validity of factual allegations, explore potential rules 
violations, and recommend appropriate sanctions and corrective 
actions. The Committee's options for investigating a matter 
include fact-gathering under Committee Rule 18(a), the 
impanelment of investigative subcommittees (ISC), consideration 
of formal complaints, and the review of transmittals from the 
Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE). Committee review of a 
matter in any of these formats is an ``investigation'' under 
House and Committee rules. Also, it is not uncommon for a 
matter to be investigated by the Committee in more than one of 
these formats over the course of the Committee's overall review 
of that matter. For example, as discussed further in this 
report, from time to time the Committee may begin an 
investigation under Committee Rule 18(a) and subsequently 
determine that it is appropriate to continue the investigation 
through an ISC.
    The initiation or status of an investigative matter may or 
may not be publicly disclosed, depending on the circumstances 
of the individual matter. However, the fact that the Committee 
is investigating a particular matter, opts to investigate a 
matter in one format instead of another, is required or chooses 
to make a public statement regarding a pending investigative 
matter, or that a House Member, officer, or employee is 
referenced in an investigative matter should not be construed 
as a finding or suggestion that the Member, officer, or 
employee has committed any violation of the rules, law, or 
standards of conduct.
    During the 116th Congress, within the scope of its 
investigative responsibilities, the Committee:
           Commenced or continued investigative fact-
        gathering regarding 50 separate investigative matters;
           Impanelled six ISCs, in the matters of 
        Representative Chris Collins, Representative Matt 
        Gaetz, Representative Duncan Hunter, Delegate Michael 
        San Nicolas, Representative David Schweikert and 
        Representative Steve Watkins;
           Held 32 ISC meetings;
           Filed 5 reports with the House totaling over 
        3,300 pages regarding various investigative matters;
           Publicly addressed 16 matters, described in 
        Section VI of this report;
           Resolved 25 additional matters;
           Conducted 110 voluntary witness interviews;
           Authorized the issuance of 11 subpoenas;
           Conducted 4 interviews pursuant to 
        subpoenas; and
           Reviewed over 420,000 pages of documents.
    All votes taken in the ISCs were unanimous. There were a 
total of 17 investigative matters pending before the Committee 
as of December 31, 2020.
    All of the Committee's work as summarized in this report is 
made possible by the Committee's talented professional, 
nonpartisan staff. The Members of the Committee wish to 
acknowledge their hard work and dedication to the Committee and 
the House. In addition, the Committee wishes to thank its 
departing Members, Ranking Member Kenny Marchant and 
Representative George Holding, for their service and for the 
thoughtfulness and collegiality they showed during their time 
on the Committee.

                            I. INTRODUCTION

    House Rule XI, clause 1(d), requires each committee to 
submit to the House, not later than January 2 of each odd-
numbered year, a report on the activities of that committee 
under that rule and House Rule X. This report summarizes the 
activities of the Committee for the entirety of the 116th 
Congress.
    The jurisdiction of the Committee on Ethics is defined in 
clauses 3(g), 4(d)(1) and 6(c)(5) of House Rule II, clauses 
1(g) and 11(g)(4) of House Rule X, clause 3 of House Rule XI, 
and clause 5(h) of House Rule XXV. The text of those provisions 
is attached as Appendix I to this Report.
    In addition, a number of provisions of statutory law confer 
authority on the Committee. Specifically, for purposes of the 
statutes on gifts to federal employees (5 U.S.C. Sec.  7353) 
and gifts to superiors (5 U.S.C. Sec.  7351), both the 
Committee and the House of Representatives are the 
``supervising ethics office'' of House Members, officers, and 
employees. In addition, as discussed further in Part III below, 
for House Members, officers, and employees, the Committee is 
both the ``supervising ethics office'' with regard to financial 
disclosure under the Ethics in Government Act (EIGA) (5 U.S.C. 
app. Sec. Sec.  101 et seq.) and the ``employing agency'' for 
certain purposes under the Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act (5 
U.S.C. Sec. 7342). The outside employment and earned income 
limitations of the EIGA are administered by the Committee with 
respect to House Members, officers, and employees (5 U.S.C. 
app. Sec.  503(1)(A)). Finally, the notification of negotiation 
and recusal requirements created by the Honest Leadership and 
Open Government Act (HLOGA) are administered, in part, by the 
Committee.

                        II. ADVICE AND EDUCATION

    Pursuant to a provision of the Ethics Reform Act of 1989 (2 
U.S.C. Sec. 4711(i)), the Committee maintains an Office of 
Advice and Education, which is staffed as directed by the 
Committee's Chairman and Ranking Member. Under the statute, the 
primary responsibilities of the Office include the following:
           Providing information and guidance to House 
        Members, officers, and employees on the laws, rules, 
        and other standards of conduct applicable to them in 
        their official capacities;
           Drafting responses to specific advisory 
        opinion requests received from House Members, officers, 
        and employees, and submitting them to the Chairman and 
        Ranking Member for review and approval;
           Drafting advisory memoranda on the ethics 
        rules for general distribution to House Members, 
        officers, and employees, and submitting them to the 
        Chairman and Ranking Member, or the full Committee, for 
        review and approval; and
           Developing and conducting educational 
        briefings for House Members, officers, and employees.
    The duties of the Office of Advice and Education are also 
addressed in Committee Rule 3, which sets out additional 
requirements and procedures for the issuance of Committee 
advisory opinions.
    Under Committee Rule 3(j), the Committee will keep 
confidential any request for advice from a Member, officer, or 
employee, as well as any response to such a request. As a 
further inducement to House Members, officers, and employees to 
seek Committee advice whenever they have any uncertainty on the 
applicable laws, rules, or standards, statutory law (2 U.S.C. 
Sec. 4711(i)(4)) provides that no information provided to the 
Committee by a Member or staff person when seeking advice on 
prospective conduct may be used as a basis for initiating a 
Committee investigation if the individual acts in accordance 
with the Committee's written advice. In the same vein, 
Committee Rule 3(k) provides that the Committee may take no 
adverse action in regard to any conduct that has been 
undertaken in reliance on a written opinion of the Committee if 
the conduct conforms to the specific facts addressed in the 
opinion. Committee Rule 3(l) also precludes the Committee from 
using information provided to the Committee by a requesting 
individual ``seeking advice regarding prospective conduct . . . 
as the basis for initiating an investigation,'' provided that 
the requesting individual ``acts in good faith in accordance 
with the written advice of the Committee.'' In addition, the 
Committee understands that federal courts may consider the good 
faith reliance of a House Member, officer, or employee on 
written Committee advice as a defense to Justice Department 
prosecution regarding certain statutory violations.\1\
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    \1\For example, a federal court held that it is a complete defense 
to a prosecution for conduct assertedly in violation of a related 
federal criminal strict-liability statute (18 U.S.C. Sec.  208) that 
the conduct was undertaken in good faith reliance upon erroneous legal 
advice received from the official's supervising ethics office. United 
States v. Hedges, 912 F.2d 1397, 1403 n.2 (11th Cir. 1990).
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    The Committee believes that a broad, active program for 
advice and education is an extremely important means for 
attaining understanding of, and compliance with, the ethics 
rules. The specifics of the Committee's efforts in the areas of 
publications, briefings, and advisory opinion letters during 
the 116th Congress are set forth below. In addition, on a daily 
basis, Committee staff attorneys provided informal advice in 
response to inquiries received from Members, staff persons, and 
third parties in telephone calls and e-mails directed to the 
Committee office, as well as in person. During the 116th 
Congress, Committee attorneys responded to more than 36,000 
phone calls and e-mail messages seeking advice, and 
participated in many informal meetings with Members, House 
staff, or outside individuals or groups regarding specific 
ethics matters.

                              PUBLICATIONS

    The Committee's major publication is the House Ethics 
Manual. The Manual provides detailed explanations of all 
aspects of the ethics rules and statutes applicable to House 
Members, officers, and employees. Topics covered by the Manual 
include the acceptance of gifts or travel, campaign activity, 
casework, outside employment, and involvement with official and 
outside organizations. The last update of the Manual was issued 
in March 2008. In the 116th Congress, the Committee began the 
process of updating the Manual by issuing new travel and gifts 
sections. As part of this effort, the Committee also issued the 
first revised Travel Regulations since 2012 and the first 
revised Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act (FGDA) Regulations, 
in over forty years.
    All current Committee publications, including the House 
Ethics Manual, are available from the Committee's office and 
their text is posted in a searchable format on the Committee's 
Web site: https://ethics.house.gov. In the 116th Congress, in 
connection with the update of the Manual, the Committee 
redesigned its Web site for the first time since 2012. The new 
Web site and in particular the interface with the House Ethics 
Manual, is easier to access, more intuitive, and mobile-
friendly.
    The Committee updates and expands upon the materials in the 
Manual, as well as highlights matters of particular concern, 
through the issuance of general advisory memoranda to all House 
Members, officers, and employees. The memoranda issued during 
the 116th Congress were as follows:
           Reminder of Ethics Requirements for 
        Financial Disclosure Filers (February 8. 2019)
           The 2019 Outside Earned Income Limit and 
        Salaries Triggering the Financial Disclosure 
        Requirement and Post-Employment Restrictions Applicable 
        to House Officers and Employers (February 8, 2019);
           The 2019 Outside Earned Income Limit and 
        Salaries Triggering the Financial Disclosure 
        Requirement and Post-Employment Restrictions Applicable 
        to House Officers and Employees (February 8, 2019);
           Upcoming Financial Disclosure Clinics & 
        Training (April 10, 2019);
           Non-Commercial Aircraft Travel (April 10, 
        2019);
           Member, Officer, and Employee Participation 
        in Fundraising Activities (May 2, 2019);
           The 2019 Outside Earned Income Limit and 
        Salaries Triggering the Financial Disclosure 
        Requirement and Post-Employment Restrictions Applicable 
        to House Officers and Employees (June 13, 2019);
           Important Information Relating to Hurricane 
        Dorian: Joint House Administration-Ethics Guidance 
        (August 30, 2019);
           Access to Classified Information and 
        Controlled Areas (November 14, 2019);
           Reminder about Annual Ethics Training 
        Requirements for 2019 (November 26, 2019);
           Outside Positions Regulations (December 11, 
        2019);
           Holiday Guidance on the Gift Rule (December 
        12, 2019));
           The 2020 Outside Earned Income Limit and 
        Salaries Triggering the Financial Disclosure 
        Requirement and Post-Employment Restrictions Applicable 
        to House Officers and Employees (January 10, 2020);
           Intentional Use of Audio-Visual Distortions 
        & Deep Fakes (January 28, 2020);
           Campaign-related Media Appearances on 
        Congressional Grounds (March 10, 2020);
           Update about the Coronavirus: Joint House 
        Administration-Ethics Committee Guidance (March 16, 
        2020);
           Update About the Coronavirus and 
        Solicitation: Joint House Administration-Ethics 
        Guidance (April 3, 2020);
           Upcoming Financial Disclosure Filing 
        Deadline & Pandemic-Related Relief (April 7, 2020);
           Ethics Guidance--Coronavirus Aid, Relief, 
        and Economic Security (CARES) Act (April 13, 2020);
           Webinar Ethics Training for New Employees 
        and Paid Interns (April 29, 2020);
           Reminder of STOCK Act Requirements, 
        Prohibition Against Insider Trading & New Certification 
        Requirement (June 11, 2020);
           Reminder of Financial Disclosure Filing 
        Deadline & Assistance Available (July 13, 2020)
           Campaign Activity Webinar Training (July 21, 
        2020);
           Guidance on House Staff Assisting in the 
        Presidential Transition (November 24, 2020)
           Reminder About Annual Ethics Training 
        Requirements for 2020 (December 1, 2020)
           Prohibition Concerning Campaign 
        Contributions and Outlays (December 11, 2020)
           Negotiations for Future Employment and 
        Restrictions on Post-Employment for House Members and 
        Officers (December 18, 2020)
           Negotiations for Future Employment and 
        Restrictions on Post-Employment for House Staff 
        (December 18, 2020)
    A copy of each of these advisory memoranda is included as 
Appendix II to this Report.
    The Committee also submits a report each month of the 
Committee's activities to the Committee on House Administration 
(CHA). Finally, with this report, the Committee has sought to 
provide as much transparency as is appropriate. In addition to 
the many numbers referred to throughout this report, the 
Committee publishes the following summary chart in the interest 
of transparency.
	  
	  
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                            ETHICS TRAINING

    Clause 3(a)(6) of House Rule XI, which originated in the 
110th Congress, requires all House Members and employees to 
complete ethics training each calendar year, pursuant to 
guidelines to be issued by the Committee. The House rules and 
Committee's guidelines require each House employee to complete 
one hour of ethics training each calendar year. The guidelines 
also require all House employees who are paid at the ``senior 
staff rate'' to complete an additional hour of training once 
each Congress on issues primarily of interest to senior 
staff.\2\ Rule XI requires new House Members and employees to 
complete ethics training within 60 days of the commencement of 
their service to the House.\3\
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    \2\In 2020, the senior staff rate was $131,239 per year, or a 
monthly salary above $10,936. This figure is subject to change each 
year, and the Committee issues a general advisory memorandum to all 
House Members, officers, and employees announcing changes in this and 
other salary thresholds relevant to ethics rules.
    \3\The requirement that new Members receive training within 60 days 
of commencement of their service to the House was added to House Rule 
XI in the 114th Congress.
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    Pursuant to its obligations under Rule XI, the Committee 
held 103 ethics training sessions during 2019 and 32 during 
2020. During the 116th Congress, all employees other than new 
employees were permitted to fulfill their training requirement 
either through attending a training session in person or by 
viewing an on-line presentation. The training sessions for new 
employees provided a general summary of the House ethics rules 
in all areas, such as gifts, travel, campaign activity, 
casework, involvement with outside entities, and outside 
employment. The live and on-line sessions for existing House 
employees covered specific topics, such as gifts and travel or 
campaign work, on a more in-depth basis. The Committee also had 
several different options that senior staff could use to 
fulfill their requirement of one additional hour of training. 
The on-line training provided a general overview of ethics 
rules of particular interest to senior staff. The live training 
sessions focused in depth on a single topic, of import for 
senior staff.
    In 2019, the Committee trained more than 2,300 employees in 
person at live ethics briefings, and more than 5,100 used one 
of the on-line training options. During 2020, the Committee 
trained nearly 800 employees in person at live ethics 
briefings, and more than 6,343 through one of the on-line 
training options. The total number of employees who completed 
ethics training for 2020 will be determined after January 31, 
2021, the date that House Rule XI established as the deadline 
for employees to certify completion of the ethics training 
requirement for 2020.
    In addition to the training required under House Rule XI, 
the Committee also provided training in several other contexts. 
The House will include 57 new Members in the 117th Congress, 
most of whom have not previously served in the House. The 
Committee made a presentation to the Members-elect of the 117th 
Congress during New Member Orientation. The Committee also met 
with numerous departing Members and staff to counsel them on 
the ethics rules related to their transition to private life 
and the post-employment restrictions. The Committee also 
provided training open to all House Members, officers, and 
employees on the financial disclosure rules, which are 
discussed further in Section III.
    Committee staff also participated in approximately 5 
briefings sponsored by or held for the members of outside 
organizations. In addition, Committee staff led approximately 8 
briefings for visiting international dignitaries from a variety 
of countries, including Argentina, India, and Sri Lanka.

                        ADVISORY OPINION LETTERS

    The Committee's Office of Advice and Education, under the 
direction and supervision of the Committee's Chairman and 
Ranking Member, prepared and issued nearly 735 private advisory 
opinions during the 116th Congress: 510 in 2019 and 225 in 2020
    Opinions issued by the Committee in the 116th Congress 
addressed a wide range of subjects, including various 
provisions of the gift rule, Member or staff participation in 
fund-raising activities of charities and for other purposes, 
the outside earned income and employment limitations, campaign 
activity by staff, and the post-employment restrictions.

                        TRAVEL APPROVAL LETTERS

    As discussed above, House Rule XXV, clause 5(d)(2), which 
was enacted at the start of the 110th Congress, charged each 
House Member or employee with obtaining approval of the 
Committee prior to undertaking any travel paid for by a private 
source on matters connected to the individual's House duties. 
Since 2007, the Committee has conducted a thorough review of 
each proposed privately-sponsored trip.
    Committee approval of a proposed trip does not reflect an 
endorsement of the trip sponsor or a determination regarding 
the safety or security a proposed trip. Instead, Committee 
approval is limited to the question of whether the proposed 
trip complies with the relevant laws, rules, or regulations. To 
that end, the Committee's nonpartisan, professional staff 
recommends changes where necessary to bring a proposed trip 
into compliance with relevant laws, rules, or regulations and, 
on occasion, informs House Members and employees that a 
proposed trip is not permissible. The Committee recognizes both 
the significant benefit the public receives when their 
Representatives and their Representatives' staff receive hands-
on education and experience, as well as the mandate that 
outside groups be appropriately limited in what gifts and 
support they are allowed to provide to Members of Congress and 
congressional staff.
    The Committee is directed by House Rules to develop and 
revise as necessary guidelines and regulations governing the 
acceptance of privately-sponsored, officially-connected travel 
by House Members, officers, and employees.\4\ The Committee 
issued initial travel regulations in a pair of memoranda dated 
February 20 and March 14, 2007. At the end of the 112th 
Congress, the Committee adopted new travel regulations (Travel 
Regulations). The new Travel Regulations were issued on 
December 27, 2012, and were effective for all trips beginning 
on or after April 1, 2013. In the 116th Congress, the Committee 
continued its ongoing efforts to review the guidelines and 
regulations regarding privately-funded, officially-connected 
travel. This review included a thorough examination of the 
forms used for privately-funded, officially-connected travel 
approval.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \4\House Rule XXV, clause 5(i).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    On December 9, 2020, the Committee voted unanimously to 
adopt revised Travel Regulations\5\ and FGDA Regulations.\6\ 
These new Travel Regulations will be effective for all trips 
starting on or after April 1, 2021, and the new FGDA 
Regulations are effective immediately.
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    \5\House Rule 25, clause 5(i).
    \6\5 U.S.C. Sec.  7342(g)(1).
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    In general, the Committee requires that any House Member, 
officer, or employee who wishes to accept an offer of 
privately-sponsored, officially-connected travel must submit 
all required paperwork to the Committee at least 30 days prior 
to the start of the trip.\7\ However, the 30-day requirement 
does not apply to certain types of trips, and the Committee 
retains authority to approve requests submitted after that 
deadline in exceptional circumstances.\8\ When the Committee 
opts to approve a request filed after the general deadline, the 
approval letter sent to the traveler--which must ultimately be 
publicly disclosed--notes that fact.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \7\Travel Regulations at Part 500--Committee Approval Process.
    \8\Id. at Sec.  501.1.
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    Under the travel approval process established by the 
Committee to implement this rule, the Committee reviewed more 
than 2,500 requests to accept privately-sponsored, officially-
connected travel, and issued letters approving more than 1,900 
such requests in 2019. In 2020, the Committee reviewed nearly 
550 requests to accept privately-sponsored, officially-
connected travel, and issued letters approving nearly 260 such 
requests.
    House Rules and the Committee's Travel Regulations require 
all House Members, officers, and employees who receive 
Committee approval to accept privately-sponsored, officially-
connected travel to file detailed paperwork about the trip with 
the Clerk within 15 days of the conclusion of the trip.\9\ The 
Committee also reviewed the post-travel disclosure forms filed 
by the traveler for each approved trip and requested amendments 
or other remedial action by the traveler when deemed 
necessary.\10\
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    \9\House Rule XXV, clause5(b)(1)(A)(ii); Travel Regulations at Part 
600--Post-Travel Disclosure.
    \10\From time to time, a traveler may inadvertently fail to file 
all of the required paperwork with their post-travel submission. That 
is not an indication that the information was not provided to the 
Committee prior to the trip and before the Committee approved the 
request, only that the traveler's subsequent submission was incomplete.
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    The post-travel filings are made available to the public in 
a searchable online database on the Clerk's Web site, at http:/
/clerk.house.gov/public_disc/giftTravel-search.aspx. The 
public, the media, and outside groups have used this valuable 
resource for years, and the Committee anticipates that they 
will continue to do so. The Committee requires those Members, 
officers, and employees who are required to file financial 
disclosure statements, as discussed in Section III, to also 
provide information about privately-sponsored, officially-
connected travel on their financial disclosure filings, but the 
public should be aware that much more detailed and timely 
public filings regarding such travel are required, and the most 
authoritative source of those filings is the Clerk's Web site.

                    OUTSIDE POSITIONS WORKING GROUP

    The Committee adopted regulations governing outside 
positions held by Members and staff during the 116th Congress. 
House Resolution 6 (H. Res. 6), created a new clause in the 
Code of Official Conduct, effective January 1, 2020, 
prohibiting Members and staff from serving as an officer or 
director of any public company traded on a U.S. exchange. H. 
Res. 6 also required that, ``[n]ot later than December 31, 
2019, the Committee on Ethics shall develop regulations 
addressing other types of prohibited service or positions that 
could lead to conflicts of interest.''
    To effectuate its mandate, the Committee established a 
working group, consisting of Representative Susan Wild and 
Representative Van Taylor, to explore potential positions that 
may lead to conflicts of interest. The working group reviewed 
an extensive amount of research, solicited public comment 
concerning the Committee's mandate under H. Res. 6, and 
convened a public session on July 25, 2019, where four outside 
groups made presentations. The working group also solicited 
input from Members of the House of Representatives. After 
approximately six months of work, the working group provided 
bipartisan proposals to the Committee. In December of 2019, the 
Committee voted to adopt Outside Position Regulations (OPR) 
that went into effect on January 1, 2020. A complete version of 
the OPR is available at: https://ethics.house.gov/sites/
ethics.house.gov/files/FINAL%20Adopted%20OPR%20Regulations%20- 
Pink%20Sheet%2012052019_.pdf

                       III. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

    Title I of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (EIGA), as 
amended (5 U.S.C. app. Sec. Sec.  101-111), requires certain 
officials in all branches of the federal government, as well as 
candidates for federal office, to file publicly-available 
Financial Disclosure Statements (Statements). These Statements 
disclose information concerning the filer's finances, as well 
as those of certain family members. By May 15 of each year, 
these ``covered individuals'' are required to file a Statement 
that provides information for the preceding calendar year. In 
addition, the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act 
(STOCK Act) amended EIGA in 2012 to add a requirement that 
financial disclosure filers must report certain securities 
transactions over $1,000 no later than 45 days after the 
transaction. The Committee has termed these interim reports 
``Periodic Transaction Reports'' or ``PTRs.''
    Financial disclosure filings are not intended to be net 
worth statements, nor are they well suited to that purpose. As 
the Commission on Administrative Review of the 95th Congress 
stated in recommending broader financial disclosure 
requirements: ``The objectives of financial disclosure are to 
inform the public about the financial interests of government 
officials in order to increase public confidence in the 
integrity of government and to deter potential conflicts of 
interest.''\11\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \11\House Comm'n on Admin. Review, Financial Ethics, H. Doc. 95-73, 
96th Cong., 1st Sess. 6 (1977).
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    All Members of the House, including Members who are serving 
the first year of their first term, are required to file a 
Statement. In addition, any officer or employee of the House 
who was paid at or above 120 percent of the minimum pay for 
Executive Branch GS-15 (the ``senior staff'' rate) for at least 
60 days in a calendar year must file a Statement on or before 
May 15 of the following year. Certain other employees, 
including those designated by a Member as a ``principal 
assistant'' for financial disclosure purposes and employees who 
are shared staff of three or more offices, are also subject to 
some financial disclosure filing requirements.
    Starting in 2013, financial disclosure filers were able to 
use an online electronic filing system to draft and submit 
their Statements and PTRs. Thanks to a very industrious 
collaboration with the Clerk of the House to create the online 
system, and extensive outreach and education, nearly all 
Members and staff used the online electronic filing system to 
submit their calendar year 2020 Statements. Specifically, 93% 
of Members and House staff used the online system to draft and 
submit their 2020 Statements.
    The Committee engages in substantial training efforts to 
assist filers with completing their Statements and PTRs. The 
Committee held two briefings for Members, officers, and 
employees. The Committee hosted three walk-in clinics to 
support filers' use of the electronic filing system for 
Statements and PTRs.
    For the 116th Congress, the Committee continued its long-
standing practice of Committee staff meeting with Members, 
officers, and employees of the House to assist filers with 
their Statements and PTRs. Committee staff responded to 
telephone, e-mail, and in-person questions from filers on an 
as-needed basis, in addition to reviewing drafts of Statements 
and PTRs. The Committee encourages all financial disclosure 
filers to avail themselves of opportunities to seek and receive 
information and assistance.
    For calendar year 2019, the Legislative Resource Center of 
the Clerk's office referred a total of 4,105 Financial 
Disclosure Statements to the Committee for review. Of those, 
3,376 were Statements filed by current or new House Members or 
employees, and 729 were Statements filed by candidates for the 
House. The Clerk's office also referred a total of 1,852 PTRs 
to the Committee for review. The Committee received 689 PTRs 
from Members and 1,163 PTRs from officers and employees.
    For calendar year 2020, the Legislative Resource Center of 
the Clerk's office referred a total of 4,308 Statements to the 
Committee for review.\12\ Of those, 3,340 were Statements filed 
by current or new House Members or employees, and 968 were 
Statements filed by candidates for the House. The Clerk's 
office also referred a total of 1,872 PTRs to the Committee for 
review. The Committee received 669 PTRs from Members and 1,204 
PTRs from officers and employees.
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    \12\In 2020, due to the unprecedented challenges created by the 
COVID-19 pandemic, the Committee exercised its authority under EIGA to 
automatically grant all House Members and employees who were required 
to file an annual Financial Disclosure Statement the full 90-day 
extension permitted by law.
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    Where the Committee's review indicated that a filed 
Statement or PTR was deficient, the Committee requested an 
amendment from the filer. Such amendments are routine and, 
without evidence of a knowing or willful violation, the 
Committee will usually take no further action after the 
amendment has been filed. Amendments are made publicly 
available in the same manner as other financial disclosure 
filings. The Committee also followed up with filers whose 
Statements indicated non-compliance with applicable law, such 
as the outside employment and outside earned income 
limitations.
    More information about financial disclosure, including the 
Committee's instruction booklet for filers and blank copies of 
Statement and PTR forms, is available on the Committee's Web 
site, at https://ethics.house.gov/financial-dislosure. In 
addition, financial disclosure filings of Members and 
candidates and other information about financial disclosure is 
available on the Clerk's Web site, at http://clerk.house.gov/
public_disc/financial.aspx.

                          IV. COMMITTEE RULES

    After the beginning of each Congress, the Committee must 
adopt rules for that Congress. On February 27, 2019, the 
Committee met and adopted the Committee rules for the 116th 
Congress. The substance of the Committee rules for the 116th 
Congress was largely identical to the amended rules adopted in 
the 115th Congress.\13\
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    \13\ In the 112th Congress, as a result of the efforts of a working 
group formed to assess the Committee's rules and procedures, numerous 
changes were made to the Committee's investigative rules, including 
changes to Committee Rules 4, 9, 17A, 18, 19 and 23. Those changes were 
adopted by the Committee on May 18, 2012. House Comm. on Ethics, 
Summary of Activities One Hundred Twelfth Congress, H. Rept. 112-730, 
112th Cong. 2nd Sess. 21 (2012).
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    A copy of the Committee Rules for the 116th Congress is 
included as Appendix III to this Report.

                          V. COVID-19 RESPONSE

    In recognition of the unprecedented challenges created by 
the COVID-19 pandemic, the Committee took proactive measures to 
assist the House community.
    The Committee issued several general advisory opinions 
applying the ethics rules to the unique issues raised by the 
pandemic. The Committee also exercised its authority under EIGA 
to automatically grant all House Members and employees who were 
required to file an annual Financial Disclosure Statement the 
full 90-day extension permitted by law. In addition, the 
Committee joined with the Committee on House Administration to 
announce a temporary exception to longstanding guidance 
regarding solicitation activity permitting Members to use 
official communications to solicit for blood donations and in-
kind resources on behalf of charitable organizations.
    The Committee also reduced the number of live, in-person 
ethics training sessions and increased its online training 
opportunities, including rolling out new live webinar options. 
The Committee temporarily waived the requirement that New 
Employee training be conducted in a live session. The Committee 
closed some of its physical offices and limited the number of 
staffers who were in the office at any given time. The 
Committee also took the necessary steps to be able to conduct 
remote Committee business meetings, including holding a dress 
rehearsal for a remote Committee hearing and two remote 
Committee hearings. The Committee Chairman then submitted a 
letter for printing in the Congressional Record from a majority 
of the Members of the Committee notifying the Speaker that the 
requirements for conducting a remote business meeting had been 
met and that the Committee was prepared to conduct a remote 
meeting and permit remote participation.

                           VI. INVESTIGATIONS

    Article I, Section 5 of the Constitution grants each 
chamber of Congress the power to ``punish its Members for 
disorderly Behaviour, and, with the Concurrence of two thirds, 
expel a Member.'' The Committee is designated by House rule as 
the body which conducts the investigative and adjudicatory 
functions which usually precede a vote by the full House 
regarding such punishment or expulsion. House Rule XI, clause 
3, as well as Committee Rules 13 through 28, describe specific 
guidelines and procedures for the exercise of that authority.
    As a general matter, the Committee's investigative 
jurisdiction extends to current House Members, officers and 
employees.\14\ When a Member, officer, or employee, who is the 
subject of a Committee investigation, resigns, the Committee 
loses jurisdiction over the individual. In the 116th Congress, 
four individuals resigned from the House while the Committee 
had an open investigation regarding them.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \14\House Rule XI, clause 3(a)(2).
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    The Committee may not undertake an investigation of an 
alleged violation that occurred before the third previous 
Congress unless the Committee determines that the alleged 
violation is directly related to an alleged violation that 
occurred in a more recent Congress.\15\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \15\House Rule XI, clause 3(b)(3).
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    In most cases, the Committee only investigates matters that 
allegedly occurred while the individual was a House Member, 
officer, or employee. However, the Committee has asserted 
jurisdiction over alleged conduct that may have violated laws, 
regulations, or standards of conduct, which occurred during an 
initial campaign for the House of Representatives. Further, the 
Committee is required to investigate whenever a Member, officer 
or employee of the House is convicted of a felony, regardless 
of whether the underlying conduct occurred while the individual 
was a Member, officer, or employee of the House.
    As a general matter, the Committee's investigations are 
conducted either pursuant to authorization by the Chairman and 
Ranking Member, under Committee Rule 18(a), or pursuant to a 
vote by the Committee to impanel an ISC. Most investigations 
are conducted pursuant to Committee Rule 18(a). Even those 
investigations that ultimately result in the formation of an 
ISC usually begin as Committee Rule 18(a) investigations. 
Committee Rule 18(a) and ISC investigations differ only in 
process, not substance. In both kinds of investigations, 
Committee staff is authorized by Members of the Committee to 
interview witnesses, request documents and information, and 
engage in other investigative actions. Further, both the 
Committee and ISC may authorize subpoenas for documents and 
witness testimony.\16\ Members of the Committee can, and do, 
attend and participate in voluntary interviews with witnesses 
in both 18(a) and ISC investigations.
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    \16\The mechanism for issuing a subpoena by the Committee or an ISC 
does differ. Where an ISC has been impanelled, it can authorize a 
subpoena, to be signed by the Committee's Chairman and Ranking Member. 
If the investigation is at the Committee Rule 18(a) stage, the full 
Committee can vote to issue a subpoena to be signed by the Chairman.
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    The Committee may opt to investigate a matter under 
Committee Rule 18(a) rather than an ISC for a number of 
reasons. For example, investigating pursuant to Committee Rule 
18(a) preserves the Committee's ability both to deploy its 
limited resources in the most efficient manner possible, and to 
maintain the confidentiality of its investigations. In general, 
the Committee publicly announces when it has voted to impanel 
an ISC. In contrast, most investigations conducted pursuant to 
Committee Rule 18(a) are confidential. Maintaining the 
confidentiality of investigations minimizes the risk of 
interference and protects the identities of complainants. 
Indeed, in past investigations, employees of a Member have 
brought allegations of misconduct to the Committee when they 
have remained in the employ of the Member and faced 
intimidation or reprisal.\17\ Maintaining a confidential 
investigation also avoids unnecessarily tarnishing a Member's 
reputation before a determination of wrongdoing has been made.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \17\See, e.g., House Comm. on Ethics, In the Matter of Allegations 
Relating to Representative Laura Richardson, H. Rept. 112-642, 112th 
Cong. 2d Sess. (2012).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The fact that an investigation is conducted in a 
confidential manner does not preclude the Committee from making 
a public statement at the end of the investigation. For 
example, in recent Congresses, the Committee has issued public 
reports to the House and/or letters of reproval in a number of 
investigative matters that were initiated by the Committee and 
that had not previously been publicly disclosed by the 
Committee.\18\
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    \18\See, e.g., House Comm. on Ethics, In the Matter of Allegations 
Relating to Elizabeth Esty, H. Rept 115-1093, 115th Cong. 2d Sess. 
(2018); House Comm. on Ethics, In the Matter of Allegations Relating to 
Representative David McKinley, H. Rept. 114-795, 114th Cong. 2d Sess. 
(2016); House Comm. on Ethics, In the Matter of Allegations Relating to 
Representative Phil Gingrey, H. Rept. 113-664, 113th Cong. 2d Sess. 
(2014).
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    Whether the Committee investigates a matter under Committee 
Rule 18(a) or through an ISC, by rule, the Committee may choose 
to exercise its investigative authority in several different 
scenarios.\19\ However, most Committee investigations begin 
when the Committee, on its own initiative, undertakes an 
investigation. In the 116th Congress, the Committee commenced 
or continued investigative fact-gathering regarding 50 separate 
investigative matters, most of which were begun at the 
Committee's initiative. Those matters also included referrals 
from the OCE. In the 116th Congress, the OCE referred 13 
matters to the Committee, 7 with a recommendation for further 
review and 6 with a recommendation that all of the allegations 
be dismissed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \19\Specifically, the Committee may exercise its investigative 
authority when: (1) information offered as a complaint by a Member of 
the House of Representatives is transmitted directly to the Committee; 
(2) information offered as a complaint by an individual not a Member of 
the House is transmitted to the Committee, provided that a Member of 
the House certifies in writing that such Member believes the 
information is submitted in good faith and warrants the review and 
consideration of the Committee; (3) the Committee, on its own 
initiative, undertakes an investigation; (4) a Member, officer, or 
employee is convicted in a Federal, State, or local court of a felony; 
(5) the House of Representatives, by resolution, authorizes or directs 
the Committee to undertake an inquiry or investigation; or (6) a 
referral from the OCE is transmitted to the Committee. See Committee 
Rule 14(a).
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    In the 116th Congress, the House issued a reprimand and a 
fine at the recommendation of the Committee and an 
investigative subcommittee in one matter. The Committee also 
issued a reproval in one matter. Including those two matters, 
since 2008, the Committee has recommended that the House issue 
a censure in one matter, recommended in two matters that the 
House issue a reprimand, and issued 15 reprovals. Nine of those 
resolutions followed investigations initiated by the Committee 
under its own authority, while nine of those resolutions 
followed recommendations by the OCE that the Committee review 
the allegations.
    The OCE is an independent office within the House created 
by a House resolution in the 110th Congress after the release 
of a report of the Democratic Members of the Special Ethics 
Task Force on Ethics Enforcement (Task Force Report).\20\ 
According to the Task Force Report, the OCE Board has the 
responsibility to review information on allegations of 
misconduct by Members, officers, and employees of the House and 
make recommendations to the Committee for the Committee's 
official consideration and action.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \20\Special Task Force on Ethics Enforcement, Report of the 
Democratic Members of the Special Task Force on Ethics Enforcement, (H. 
Rept. 110-1, 110th Cong. 1st Sess. (Comm. Print 2007).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Two OCE Board members may initiate a review by notifying 
all other OCE Board members in writing. The OCE Board then has 
30 calendar days to consider the matter in a preliminary review 
phase and may vote to either terminate the review or progress 
to the second-phase review. Once in the second phase, the OCE 
Board has 45 calendar days (with a possible one-time extension 
of 14 days) to complete consideration of the matter and refer 
it to the Committee with a recommendation for dismissal, 
further review, or as unresolved due to a tie vote. The OCE 
Board's referral may not contain any conclusions regarding the 
validity of the allegations upon which it is based or the guilt 
or innocence of the individual who is the subject of the 
review. The Task Force believed that ``the timeline 
requirements instituted by the new process are critical: 
matters will spend at most three months under consideration by 
the Board of the OCE before being referred to the Committee for 
resolution.''\21\ The Task Force considered whether to give the 
OCE either direct or indirect subpoena power. But the Task 
Force Report ultimately decided not to give the OCE subpoena 
power based on a number of factors. Instead, the Task Force 
Report stated that the Board's referral may include 
recommendations for the issuance of subpoenas by the Committee 
where Members feel it appropriate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \21\Id. at 14. The 13 OCE referrals received by the Committee in 
the 116th Congress were transmitted an average of 135 days after the 
start of the preliminary review phase.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    When the Committee receives a referral from the OCE, it is 
required to review the referral ``without prejudice or 
presumptions as to the merit of the allegations.''\22\ The 
Committee thus makes an independent determination about how to 
proceed in the matter based on the information before the 
Committee, which may include not only the OCE referral and 
supporting documents provided to the Committee by the OCE, but 
other information. It is not uncommon that the Committee's 
review will require more than 90 days, because of the need to 
review documents, interview witnesses, and/or assess the legal 
significance of evidence, among other investigative steps. Some 
investigations may require the review of tens of thousands, if 
not hundreds of thousands, of pages of documents. For example, 
in the 116th Congress one investigation that spanned multiple 
Congresses required the Committee to review more than 200,000 
pages of documents to resolve the matter.\23\
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    \22\Committee Rule 17A(a).
    \23\House Comm. on Ethics, In the Matter of Allegations Relating to 
Representative David Schweikert, H. Rept. 116-46, 116th Cong. 2d Sess. 
(2020).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    In some instances, the Committee may be asked to defer its 
investigation by another law enforcement entity, generally the 
U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). The Committee typically 
honors such requests, barring unusual circumstances. For one 
thing, parallel investigations pose the risk of compromising 
one another. Also, for the most serious criminal violations, 
only DOJ can pursue a prosecution to seek imprisonment, the 
most serious possible consequence for a violation of law.\24\ 
Provided that the Committee still retains jurisdiction, a 
decision by the Committee to defer does not preclude the 
Committee from continuing its investigation later, regardless 
of the outcome of the other entity's investigation. In 
addition, a decision by the Committee to defer an investigation 
does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred or 
reflect any judgment on behalf of the Committee. In the 116th 
Congress, the Committee did opt to defer several investigations 
at the request of DOJ, as described further below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \24\DOJ will not lose jurisdiction to continue an investigation and 
pursue prosecution, if it determines that is appropriate, in the event 
that a Member or employee leaves the House, whether through resignation 
or defeat for reelection.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The Committee publicly addressed 16 investigative matters 
during the 116th Congress. In addition to confidential matters, 
the Committee also carried over several public matters from the 
115th Congress. In the 116th Congress, the Committee continued 
to address the matters concerning Representatives Chris 
Collins, Duncan Hunter, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, David 
Schweikert, and Michael Collins. A chronological overview of 
public statements made by the Committee in the 116th Congress 
regarding investigative matters follows.
    On April 17, 2019, the Committee announced it was 
continuing to review allegations regarding Representative David 
Schweikert that were referred by the OCE on April 16, 2018 and 
were within the jurisdiction of an ISC, and, pursuant to 
Committee Rule 17A(f)(2), because the matter had not been 
resolved within one year of the referral from OCE, the 
Committee was required to make public OCE's Report in the 
matter.
    On May 3, 2019, the Committee announced it had unanimously 
voted to re-authorize an ISC for the 116th Congress to review 
allegations involving Representative Chris Collins. The 
Committee, following precedent, unanimously recommended to the 
ISC that it defer action on those allegations in response to a 
request from DOJ.
    On May 3, 2019, the Committee announced it had unanimously 
voted to re-authorize an ISC for the 116th Congress to review 
allegations involving Representative Duncan Hunter. The 
Committee, following precedent, unanimously recommended to the 
ISC that it defer action on those allegations in response to a 
request from DOJ.
    On May 3, 2019, the Committee announced it had unanimously 
voted to re-authorize an ISC for the 116th Congress to review 
allegations involving Representative David Schweikert.
    On June 28, 2019, the Committee announced that an ISC had 
been established and forwarded a Member complaint regarding 
allegations that Representative Matt Gaetz sought to threaten, 
intimidate, harass, or otherwise improperly influence the 
President's former attorney, Michael Cohen, in connection with 
Mr. Cohen's testimony before a congressional committee.
    On September 5, 2019, the Committee announced it was 
continuing to review allegations regarding Representative David 
Schweikert that were referred by the OCE on September 5, 2018 
and were within the jurisdiction of an ISC, and, pursuant to 
Committee Rule 17A(f)(2), because the matter had not been 
resolved within one year of the referral from OCE, the 
Committee was required to make public OCE's Report in the 
matter.
    On October 1, 2019, the Committee released a statement 
noting that Representative Chris Collins had resigned from 
Congress and, as a consequence, the ISC and the Committee no 
longer had jurisdiction over him.
    On October 23, 2019, the Committee announced that, pursuant 
to Committee Rule 18(a), it would review allegations that 
Representative Katie Hill may have engaged in a sexual 
relationship with an individual on her congressional staff.
    On October 24, 2019, the Committee announced that, pursuant 
to Committee Rule 18(a), it would review allegations that 
Delegate Michael F.Q. San Nicolas may have engaged in a sexual 
relationship with an individual on his congressional staff, 
converted campaign funds to personal use, and/or accepted 
improper or excessive campaign contributions.
    On November 14, 2019, the Committee announced that, 
pursuant to Committee Rule 18(a), it would review allegations 
that Representative Alcee Hastings may have engaged in a 
relationship with an individual in his congressional office and 
whether Representative Hastings had received any improper 
gifts, including any forbearance, from that employee.
    On November 14, 2019, the Committee announced that, 
pursuant to Committee Rule 18(a), it would continue to review 
allegations referred by the OCE regarding Representative Bill 
Huizenga.
    On November 14, 2019, the Committee announced that, 
pursuant to Committee Rule 18(a), it would continue to review 
allegations referred by the OCE regarding Representative Ross 
Spano and that, following precedent, the Committee unanimously 
voted to defer action on those allegations in response to a 
request from DOJ.
    On November 14, 2019, the Committee announced that, 
pursuant to Committee Rule 18(a), it would continue to review 
allegations referred by the OCE regarding Representative 
Rashida Tlaib.
    On December 5, 2019, the Committee announced that the 
Chairman and Ranking Member had issued a letter to 
Representative Duncan Hunter.
    On December 9, 2019, the Committee announced that the DOJ 
had withdrawn its request that the Committee defer 
consideration in the matter of Representative Duncan Hunter and 
made public the OCE's findings in the matter.
    On December 17, 2019, the Committee announced that, 
pursuant to Committee Rule 18(a), it would continue to review 
allegations referred by the OCE regarding Representative Lori 
Trahan.
    On December 19, 2019, the Committee transmitted a Report to 
the House regarding allegations relating to Representative 
Cathy McMorris Rodgers.
    On January 14, 2020, Committee released a statement noting 
that Representative Duncan Hunter had resigned from Congress 
and, as a consequence, the ISC and the Committee no longer had 
jurisdiction over him.
    On March 11, 2020, the Committee unanimously voted to 
establish an ISC with regard to allegations that Delegate 
Michael F.Q. San Nicolas may have: engaged in a sexual 
relationship with an individual on his congressional staff; 
converted campaign funds to personal use; accepted improper 
and/or excessive campaign contributions; reported campaign 
disbursements that may not be legitimate and verifiable 
campaign expenditures attributed to bona fide campaign or 
political purposes; omitted required information from or 
disclosed false information in reports filed with the Federal 
Election Commission; made false statements to government 
investigators or agencies; and/or improperly interfered or 
attempted to interfere in a government investigation of related 
allegations in violation of House Rules, law, regulations, or 
other standards of conduct.
    On June 12, 2020, the Committee announced that, following 
its review, it determined to take no further action in the 
matter of Representative Alcee Hastings.
    On July 16, 2020, the Committee transmitted a Report to the 
House regarding allegations relating to Representative Lori 
Trahan.
    On July 30, 2020, the Committee transmitted a Report to the 
House regarding allegations relating to Representative David 
Schweikert and announced it would bring a privileged resolution 
for consideration and vote by the full House.
    On July 31, 2020, the Committee announced that, pursuant to 
Committee Rule 18(a), it would continue to review allegations 
referred by the OCE regarding Representative Sanford Bishop.
    On August 7, 2020, the Committee transmitted a Report to 
the House regarding allegations relating to Representative 
Rashida Tlaib.
    On August 13, 2020, the Committee announced it had 
unanimously voted to establish an ISC with regard to 
allegations that Representative Steve Watkins falsely reported 
information to a law enforcement officer; voted in an election 
district without being lawfully registered to vote; knowingly 
marked or transmitted more than one advance voting ballot; and/
or failed to notify the proper agency of a change of name or 
address.
    On August 21, 2020, the Committee transmitted a Report to 
the House regarding allegations relating to Representative Matt 
Gaetz.
    On November 16, 2020, the Committee announced that it 
continued to defer consideration of the matter regarding 
Representative Ross Spano in response to a request from DOJ.
    On December 17, 2020, the Committee announced that, 
pursuant to Committee Rule 18(a), it would continue to review 
allegations referred by the OCE regarding Representative Steven 
Palazzo.
    These investigative matters are described in more detail 
below, in alphabetical order. Copies of all of the Committee's 
public statements related to these matters are included as 
Appendix IV to this Report. Those statements, along with any 
attachments referenced in the statements, are available on the 
Committee's Web site. All of the Committee's Reports as filed 
with the House are also available on the Committee's Web site.

In the Matter of Allegations Relating to Representative Sanford Bishop, 
        Jr.

    On February 10, 2020, the OCE forwarded to the Committee a 
Report and Findings in which it recommended further review of 
allegations that Representative Sanford Bishop, Jr.'s campaign 
committee reported disbursements that were not attributable to 
bona fide campaign or political purposes, and that 
Representative Bishop authorized expenditures from his Members' 
Representational Allowance (MRA) that were not for permissible 
official expenses, in violation of federal law, House rules and 
other standards of conduct.
    On July 31, 2020, the Committee released the OCE Report and 
Findings, along with Representative Bishop's response, and 
noted in a public statement that the Committee was continuing 
to review the allegations pursuant to Committee Rule 18(a).
    As of the conclusion of the 116th Congress, the Committee 
had not completed its investigation into this matter. 
Representative Bishop was reelected to the House for the 117th 
Congress.

In the Matter of Allegations Relating to Representative Chris Collins

    On July 14, 2017, the OCE forwarded to the Committee a 
Report and Findings in which it recommended further review of 
allegations that Representative Chris Collins may have violated 
federal law, House rules and other standards of conduct by 
sharing material nonpublic information in the purchase of stock 
of a company for which he served on the board, and by taking 
official actions or requesting official actions that would 
assist a single entity in which he had a significant financial 
interest. The OCE also reviewed allegations that Representative 
Collins purchased discounted stock that was not available to 
the public and that was offered to him based on his status as a 
Member of the House, in violation of House rules, standards of 
conduct and federal law, but the OCE recommended the Committee 
dismiss that allegation. The Committee released the OCE Report 
and Findings, along with Representative Collins' response, on 
October 12, 2017, and noted in a public statement that the 
Committee was continuing to review the allegations pursuant to 
Committee Rule 18(a).
    On August 8, 2018, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern 
District of New York filed an indictment against Representative 
Collins in federal district court, charging him with 
conspiracy, securities fraud, wire fraud, and making false 
statements. On September 6, 2018, the Committee unanimously 
voted to establish an ISC to determine whether Representative 
Collins violated the Code of Official Conduct or any law, rule, 
regulation or other applicable standard of conduct in the 
performance of his duties or the discharge of his 
responsibilities, with respect to allegations that he: engaged 
in unlawful conspiracy, securities fraud, and wire fraud; 
purchased discount stock that was not available to the public; 
took official actions on behalf of a company in which he had a 
significant financial interest; and made false statements to, 
withheld information from, or otherwise misled federal 
investigators. The Committee, following precedent, unanimously 
recommended to the ISC that it defer action on its 
investigation in response to a request from DOJ.
    On May 3, 2019, the Committee announced it had unanimously 
voted to reestablish the ISC in the 116th Congress. The DOJ had 
requested that the Committee continue to defer consideration of 
the matters in DOJ's jurisdiction. The Committee, again 
following precedent, unanimously recommended to the ISC that it 
defer action as to those matters. On September 30, 2019, 
Representative Collins announced his resignation from the 
House, effective October 1, 2019, at which time the ISC and the 
Committee lost jurisdiction to continue its investigation.

In the Matter of Allegations Relating to Michael Collins

    On May 11, 2017, the OCE forwarded to the Committee a 
Report and Findings regarding Michael Collins, former Chief of 
Staff to Representative John Lewis and former paid campaign 
consultant for the John Lewis for Congress campaign committee, 
in which it recommended further review of allegations that 
between 2015 and 2017, Mr. Collins may have violated House 
rules and other standards of conduct by receiving compensation 
for work involving fiduciary duties and/or serving for 
compensation as an officer of the campaign committee. OCE also 
recommended review of allegations that in 2015, Mr. Collins 
received income from the campaign committee that exceeded the 
outside earned income limit applicable to senior staff for that 
calendar year. The Committee released the OCE Report and 
Findings, along with Mr. Collins' response, on August 9, 2017, 
and noted in a public statement that the Committee was 
continuing to review the allegations pursuant to Committee Rule 
18(a).
    On September 1, 2020, Mr. Collins resigned from the office 
of the 5th Congressional District of Georgia, at which point 
the Committee lost jurisdiction to continue its investigation.

In the Matter of Allegations Relating to Representative Matt Gaetz

    On March 13, 2019, the Committee received a Member 
complaint alleging that a social media post made by 
Representative Matt Gaetz regarding an individual, the day 
before that individual was scheduled to testify before a 
congressional committee, was an attempt to threaten, 
intimidate, harass, or otherwise improperly influence Mr. 
Cohen's testimony in violation of the federal laws prohibiting 
witness tampering and obstruction of Congress. Because 
Representative Gaetz initially declined to testify before the 
Committee, the Committee was unable to dispose of the complaint 
in a timely fashion and therefore was required to establish an 
ISC. On June 25, 2019, an ISC was formed, pursuant to House 
Rule XI, clause 3(b)(2), and Committee Rule 16(d).
    The ISC reviewed Representative Gaetz's social media post, 
and his related conduct, and did not find that he had the 
requisite intent to violate the federal criminal statutes 
prohibiting witness tampering and/or obstruction of Congress. 
The ISC did find, however, that Representative Gaetz's conduct 
violated House Rule XXIII, clause 1, which requires Members to 
act at all times in a manner that reflects creditably in the 
House. On February 3, 2020, the ISC transmitted its findings to 
the full Committee and recommended that the full Committee 
admonish Representative Gaetz for his conduct.
    On July 29, 2020, the Committee unanimously voted to adopt 
the ISC's Report and to admonish Representative Gaetz for his 
conduct. As a general matter, the Committee avoids making 
public statements regarding investigative matters within 60 
days of an election in which the subject of the investigation 
is a candidate. Representative Gaetz was on the Florida primary 
election ballot on August 18, 2020. Therefore, the Committee 
postponed until August 21, 2020, release of a Report describing 
the facts and its findings in the matter to the House, as well 
as its determination to take no further action in the matter.

In the Matter of Allegations Relating to Representative Alcee Hastings

    On November 14, 2019, the Committee announced that it was 
investigating, pursuant to Committee Rule 18(a), allegations 
that Representative Alcee Hastings may have violated House 
Rules, laws or other standards of conduct by being in a 
personal relationship with an individual employed in his 
congressional office and by receiving improper gifts, including 
any forbearance, from that employee.
    During its investigation, the Committee became aware that 
Representative Hastings had been married to the individual 
employed in his congressional office since January 2019. Based 
on this information, the Committee found that Representative 
Hastings was not in violation of the applicable House Rules. 
The Committee also considered whether Representative Hastings 
had complied with the laws and rules relating to nepotism. 
Following its review, the Committee determined to take no 
further action based on the particular facts of the matter, 
including that Representative Hastings' spouse's employment, 
which began prior to the 113th Congress, was not prohibited 
under the relevant House Rules. On June 12, 2020, the Committee 
announced that it had closed its investigation.

In the Matter of Allegations Relating to Representative Katie Hill

    On October 23, 2019, the Committee announced that it was 
investigating, pursuant to Committee Rule 18(a), allegations 
that the Representative Katie Hill may have engaged in a sexual 
relationship with an individual on her congressional staff.
    On October 27, 2019, Representative Hill announced her 
resignation from the House, effective November 3, 2019, at 
which time the Committee lost jurisdiction to continue its 
investigation.

In the Matter of Allegations Relating to Representative Bill Huizenga

    On August 16, 2019, the OCE forwarded to the Committee a 
Report and Findings in which it recommended further review of 
allegations that Representative Bill Huizenga's campaign 
committee reported campaign disbursements that may not be 
legitimate and verifiable campaign expenditures attributable to 
bona fide campaign or political purposes and accepted 
contributions from individuals employed in his congressional 
office, in violation of federal law, House rules and other 
standards of conduct. The OCE also reviewed an allegation that 
Representative Huizenga authorized expenditures from his 
Members' Representational Allowance (MRA) that were not for 
permissible official expenses, but the OCE recommended the 
Committee dismiss that allegation. The Committee released the 
OCE Report and Findings on November 14, 2019 and noted in a 
public statement that the Committee was continuing to review 
the allegations pursuant to Committee Rule 18(a).
    At the conclusion of the 116th Congress, the Committee had 
not completed its investigation into this matter. 
Representative Huizenga was reelected to the House for the 
117th Congress.

In the Matter of Allegations Relating to Representative Duncan Hunter

    On August 31, 2016, the OCE forwarded to the Committee a 
Report and Findings in which it recommended further review of 
allegations that Representative Duncan Hunter may have violated 
federal law, House rules, and other standards of conduct by 
converting campaign funds to personal use. On March 23, 2017, 
the Committee announced that, following precedent, the 
Committee had voted unanimously to defer its review at the 
request of DOJ. The Committee made OCE's Report, but not its 
Findings, public at that time. On March 23, 2018, the Committee 
announced that it was continuing to defer its consideration of 
the matter at the request of DOJ.
    On August 21, 2018, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern 
District of California filed an indictment against 
Representative Hunter in federal district court charging him 
with conspiracy, wire fraud, falsifying campaign finance 
records, prohibited use of campaign contributions, and false 
statements. On September 6, 2018, the Committee unanimously 
voted to establish an ISC with jurisdiction to investigate 
allegations that Representative Hunter engaged in unlawful 
conspiracy, fraud, falsification of campaign finance records, 
and prohibited use of campaign contributions. The Committee, 
following precedent, unanimously recommended to the ISC that it 
defer consideration of the matter in response to the request 
from DOJ.
    On May 3, 2019, the Committee announced it had unanimously 
voted to reestablish the ISC in the 116th Congress. The 
Committee, again following precedent, unanimously recommended 
to the ISC that it defer action as to those matters.
    Representative Hunter pled guilty to one count of 
conspiring to convert campaign funds to personal use on 
December 3, 2019. On December 5, 2019, the Committee released a 
letter it had issued Representative Hunter in which the 
Committee advised him that, pursuant to House Rule XXIII, 
clause10(a), he should refrain from voting in the House due to 
his guilty plea. DOJ also withdrew its request for deferral 
following Representative Hunter's guilty plea and on December 
9, 2019, the Committee released OCE's Findings.
    On January 7, 2020, Representative Hunter announced his 
resignation from the House, effective January 13, 2020, at 
which time, the ISC and the Committee lost jurisdiction to 
continue its investigation.

In the Matter of Allegations Relating to Representative Steven Palazzo

    On September 2, 2020, the OCE forwarded to the Committee a 
Report and Findings in which it recommended further review of 
allegations involving Representative Steven Palazzo. Committee 
Rule 17A(j) provides that the Committee may postpone any 
reporting requirement related to an OCE referral that falls 
within 60 days of an election in which the subject of the 
referral is a candidate. Representative Palazzo was on the 
general election ballot on November 3, 2020. Therefore, the 
announcement that the Chairman and Ranking Member jointly 
decided to extend the matter of Representative Palazzo for a 
45-day period, pursuant to Committee Rules 17A(b)(1)(A) and 
17A(c)(1), was postponed until December 17, 2020.
    As of the conclusion of the 116th Congress, the Committee 
had not completed its review of the OCE's referral. 
Representative Palazzo was reelected to the House for the 117th 
Congress.

In the Matter of Allegations Relating to Representative Cathy McMorris 
        Rodgers

    On December 23, 2013, the OCE forwarded to the Committee a 
Report and Findings in which it recommended further review of 
allegations that Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers may have 
violated federal law, House rules and standards of conduct by 
using House resources for campaign activity and combining 
campaign and House resources for her campaign for a House 
leadership position. The Committee released the OCE Report and 
Findings, along with Representative Rodgers' response, on March 
24, 2014, and noted in a public statement that the Committee 
was continuing to review the allegations pursuant to Committee 
Rule 18(a).
    The Committee conducted a thorough and expansive 
investigation of alleged misconduct from 2008 through 2017.
    On December 19, 2019, the Committee voted unanimously to 
submit a Report to the House which served as a reproval of 
Representative Rodgers for her conduct. In its Report, the 
Committee found that Representative Rogers provided 
inappropriate compensation for consultant services from 2012 to 
2017. Representative Rodgers defrayed the cost of official 
services she received from consultants with either political 
funds or the consultant's voluntary provision of services, in 
violation House Rule XXIV. She also used official funds 
appropriated for her House leadership office for consultant 
services in a manner that would have been contrary to relevant 
laws and rules restricting MRA expenditures. The Committee 
found that the restrictions in place to safeguard congressional 
funds from misuse are lacking with respect to leadership 
offices. To address those concerns, the Committee voted to 
refer certain allegations to the House Inspector General for 
further review.
    In addition, the Committee found that the congressional 
offices of Representative Rodgers were governed by inconsistent 
policies and poor record keeping, which led to the misuse of 
official resources for campaign or other political purposes. 
The Committee found that while Representative Rodgers' staff 
was not compelled to assist with her campaign, her staff used 
official resources, including official staff time, 
congressional office space, and travel funds, for political 
activities in violation of federal law and House Rules. The 
Committee also found that Representative Rodgers improperly 
combined official and campaign resources during her 2012 
leadership race.
    The Committee found that Representative Rodgers was 
ultimately responsible for implementing adequate policies to 
prevent her staff from acting contrary to House Rules and laws 
and that she failed to do so, in violation of clauses 1 and 2 
of House Rule XXIII. The Committee directed Representative 
Rodgers to reimburse the U.S. Treasury $7,575.95 for the misuse 
of official resources. In December 2019, Representative Rodgers 
provided the U.S. Treasury with a check for the reimbursement 
amount.

In the Matter of Allegations Relating to Delegate Michael F.Q. San 
        Nicolas

    On October 24, 2019, the Committee announced that it was 
investigating, pursuant to Committee Rule 18(a), allegations 
that Delegate Michael F.Q. San Nicolas may have engaged in a 
sexual relationship with an individual on his congressional 
staff, converted campaign funds to personal use, and/or 
accepted improper or excessive campaign contributions.
    On June 12, 2020, the Committee announced that it had 
unanimously voted on March 11, 2020, to establish an ISC with 
jurisdiction to investigate whether Delegate San Nicolas may 
have: engaged in a sexual relationship with an individual on 
his congressional staff; converted campaign funds to personal 
use; accepted improper and/or excessive campaign contributions; 
reported campaign disbursements that may not be legitimate and 
verifiable campaign expenditures attributable to bona fide 
campaign or political purposes; omitted required information 
from or disclosed false information in reports filed with the 
Federal Election Commission; made false statements to 
government investigators or agencies; and/or improperly 
interfered or attempted to interfere in a government 
investigation of related allegations. The Committee determined 
to take that action following the receipt of a referral from 
the OCE regarding this matter.
    At the conclusion of the 116th Congress, the ISC had not 
completed its investigation into this matter. Delegate San 
Nicolas was reelected to the House for the 117th Congress.

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 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. The 
ISC did not complete its investigation into this matter by the 
conclusion of the 115th Congress.
    On May 3, 2019, the Committee announced that it unanimously 
voted to re-authorize an ISC for the 116th Congress to review 
allegations involving Representative Schweikert.
    At the completion of its investigation, the ISC unanimously 
concluded that there was substantial reason to believe that 
Representative Schweikert violated House Rules, the Code of 
Ethics for Government Service, federal laws and other 
applicable standards in connection with: campaign finance 
violations and reporting errors by his authorized campaign 
committees; the misuse of his MRA for unofficial purposes; 
pressuring official staff to perform campaign work; and his 
lack of candor and due diligence during the investigation.
    On June 30, 2020, pursuant to a negotiated settlement with 
Representative Schweikert, the ISC unanimously voted to adopt a 
Statement of Alleged Violations (SAV) detailing 11 violations 
and the facts giving rise to those violations. On that date, 
the ISC submitted a Report to the full Committee unanimously 
recommending that the Committee submit a Report to the House. 
The ISC further recommended that the adoption of the Report by 
the House serve as a reprimand of Representative Schweikert for 
his misconduct. Additionally, the ISC recommended that the 
Committee recommend that the House impose a fine on 
Representative Schweikert in the amount of $50,000. As part of 
the negotiated resolution, Representative Schweikert agreed to 
waive all further procedural rights in the matter provided to 
him by House or Committee rules, and agreed to admit to all 11 
counts in the SAV, pay a $50,000 fine, and accept a House 
reprimand.
    On July 29, 2020, the Committee submitted to the House its 
Report regarding this matter, in which the Committee adopted 
the ISC's Report and all of its recommendations. Following 
discussion by members of the Committee and ISC before the full 
House, the House adopted the Committee's Report regarding 
Representative Schweikert by unanimous consent on July 30, 
2020, and thus reprimanded him for his misconduct. By adopting 
the Committee's Report, the House of Representatives also 
imposed a $50,000 fine on Representative Schweikert, as 
recommended by the ISC and full Committee. Representative 
Schweikert's counsel informed the Committee that he has paid 
the fine.

In the Matter of Allegations Relating to Representative Ross Spano

    On August 16, 2019, the OCE forwarded to the Committee a 
Report and Findings in which it recommended further review of 
allegations related to Representative Ross Spano. On November 
14, 2019, the Committee announced that because DOJ had asked 
the Committee to defer its consideration of the matter, the 
Committee had followed precedent and voted unanimously to defer 
its review. The Committee made OCE's Report, but not its 
Findings, public at that time. On November 14, 2020, the 
Committee announced that it was continuing to defer its 
consideration of the matter at the request of DOJ. 
Representative Spano lost his bid for reelection to the House 
and the Committee will no longer have jurisdiction to continue 
the investigation after January 3, 2021.

In the Matter of Allegations Relating to Representative Rashida Tlaib

    On August 16, 2019, the OCE forwarded to the Committee a 
Report and Findings regarding Representative Rashida Tlaib in 
which it recommended further review of allegations that 
Representative Tlaib's campaign committee, Rashida Tlaib for 
Congress, may have violated House Rules and federal law by 
reporting campaign disbursements that may not be legitimate and 
verifiable campaign expenditures attributable to bona fide 
campaign or political purposes. Specifically, OCE considered 
whether the payments Representative Tlaib received after the 
2018 general election, totaling $17,500, were prohibited under 
campaign finance laws and regulations governing the personal 
use of campaign funds. The Committee released the OCE Report 
and Findings, along with Representative Tlaib's response, on 
November 14, 2019, 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 
there was sufficient evidence to support a determination that a 
portion of the payments that Representative Tlaib received 
after the 2018 general election was inconsistent with the 
requirements outlined in the Federal Election Campaign Act of 
1971 (FECA) and its implementing regulations. The Committee 
also noted, however, that Representative Tlaib had engaged in 
good faith efforts to comply with the relevant FECA 
requirements and had not sought to unjustly enrich herself by 
receiving the excess campaign funds. Accordingly, the Committee 
unanimously voted that a sanction was not merited in this 
matter but directed Representative Tlaib to reimburse her 
campaign committee $10,800, which represented the excess funds 
that were inconsistent with FECA's requirements.
    On August 7, 2020, 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 the Matter of Allegations Relating to Representative Lori Trahan

    On September 18, 2019, the OCE forwarded to the Committee a 
Report and Findings recommending further review of allegations 
that Representative Lori Trahan's campaign committee accepted 
excessive contributions from her husband, that were disguised 
as personal loans, and that Representative Trahan omitted 
required information related to the personal loans from her 
congressional candidate Financial Disclosure Statements and 
Federal Election Commission (FEC) reports.
    The Committee investigated the allegations and found that 
the funds used to source Representative Trahan's personal loans 
to the Campaign were marital property to which Representative 
Trahan had a legal right of access and control, and therefore, 
were not excessive contributions from her husband. Furthermore, 
while the Committee found there may have been omissions and 
errors on Representative Trahan's Financial Disclosure 
Statements and FEC reports, the Committee found no evidence 
that the errors and omissions were knowing and willful. With 
respect to some of the FEC related errors and omissions, the 
Committee noted that there was no clear legal standard 
articulated by the FEC in its public guidance, and the 
Committee determined that the FEC was best qualified to 
determine whether Representative Trahan's campaign properly 
complied with those particular reporting requirements. The 
Committee, accordingly, did not find that Representative Trahan 
violated House Rules, laws, regulations or other standards of 
conduct, and dismissed the matter.
    On July 16, 2020, the Committee released a Report 
describing the facts and its findings in the matter, as well as 
its determination to dismiss the matter and take no further 
action.

In the Matter of Allegations Relating to Representative Steve Watkins

    On July 14, 2020, the Shawnee County District Attorney in 
Kansas filed a complaint against Representative Steve Watkins 
charging him with: interference with law enforcement; providing 
false information; voting without being qualified; unlawful 
advance voting; and failing to notify the DMV of change of 
address. On July 23, 2020, the Committee unanimously voted to 
impanel an ISC with jurisdiction to investigate allegations 
that Representative Watkins falsely reported information to a 
law enforcement officer; voted in an election district without 
being lawfully registered to vote; knowingly marked or 
transmitted more than one advance voting ballot; and/or failed 
to notify the proper agency of a change of name or address.
    Representative Watkins lost his bid for reelection to the 
House, and the ISC and the Committee will not have jurisdiction 
to continue the investigation after January 3, 2021.
	  
	  
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