Ethics: Full Probes Into Reps. Rob Andrews, Don Young

by Shane Goldmacher March 19, 2013 National Journal

The House Ethics Committee announced Tuesday it was opening full-scale investigations to review potential ethics violations of two lawmakers, Rep. Rob Andrews, D-NJ, and Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska. Both cases involved the alleged use of official or campaign resources for personal purposes….

The ethics committee’s announcement on Tuesday of an investigative subcommittee into Young was the first indication of an active inquiry into the Alaska Republican. The panel had previously investigated him in 2011 for receiving multiple contributions from corporations tied to the same group of individuals. Young was not charged with wrongdoing, but the committee adopted new rules to prevent such cases in the future.

On Tuesday, the ethics panel said its inquiry into Young involved allegations he received improper gifts and didn’t report them, misused campaign or official resources and that he “made false statements to federal officials.” The panel said the committee had gathered evidence in the probe in the 111th and 112th Congresses, as well as “a referral from the Department of Justice” involving “Young’s expenses and travel costs for certain trips” that the committee said were part of its “ongoing review.”….

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Statement of the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Ethics Regarding Representative Don Young

News Release from House Ethics Committee March 19, 2013

In accordance with House Rule XI, clause 3 and Committee Rules 10(a)(2) and 18, the Committee on Ethics (Committee) unanimously voted on February 26, 2013, to establish an Investigative Subcommittee.  Pursuant to the Committee’s action, the Investigative Subcommittee shall have jurisdiction to determine whether Representative Don Young 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, or persons acting on his behalf, improperly obtained, received, or accepted gifts, improperly used official resources or campaign funds for personal purposes, failed to report certain gifts on his annual Financial Disclosure Statements, and made false statements to federal officials.

The Committee has determined to take this action based upon a discretionary review of the allegations, as well as evidence obtained pursuant to Committee Rule 18(a), authorized by the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee during the 111th and 112th Congresses.  During the course of the Committee’s investigation, a portion of which was initially requested by Representative Young, the Committee received a referral from the Department of Justice regarding Representative Young’s expenses and travel costs for certain trips which were the subject of the Committee’s ongoing review.  The Committee has reviewed the referral without prejudice or presumptions as to the merit of the allegations.

The Committee notes that the mere fact of establishing an Investigative Subcommittee does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred.

The Honorable Patrick Meehan will serve as the Chair of the Investigative Subcommittee, and the Honorable Michael E. Capuano will serve as the Ranking Member.  The other two members of the Investigative Subcommittee are the Honorable William M. “Mac” Thornberry and the Honorable William Keating.  No other public comment will be made on this matter except in accordance with Committee rules.