House Announces Plan to Establish Investigative Subcommittee to Probe Andrews Campaign Expenditures
By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog
Over six months after announcing that it needed more time to probe the matter, the House Ethics Committee announced on Tuesday afternoon that it would launch a full investigation into whether Rep. Rob Andrews (D-NJ01) used campaign funds for personal expenses.
Here’s the release:
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 Robert Andrews 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 improperly used funds from his principal campaign committee and leadership PAC for personal purposes, used official resources for nonofficial and personal purposes, 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 for the 112th Congress. During the course of the Committee’s independent investigation, the Committee received a referral from the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) regarding Representative Andrews’ use of funds from his principal campaign committee and leadership PAC. As provided by House Rule X, clause 1(g) and Committee Rule 17A(a), the Committee has exclusive jurisdiction over the interpretation, administration, and enforcement of the Code of Official Conduct. Consistent with the Committee’s rules, it reviews OCE’s Report and Findings without prejudice or presumptions as to the merit of the allegations.
The Committee was careful to note, however, that “the mere fact of establishing an Investigative Subcommittee does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred.”
Rep. Andrews wasn’t the only member facing elevated scrutiny. The Committee simultaneously announced an investigation into Rep. Don Young (R-AK) owing to an unrelated set of allegations.
Investigating members into the Andrews matter will include Rep. Trey Gowdy, Rep. Pedro Pierluisi (D-PR), Rep. Tom Latham (R-IA) and Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA). If you want some background on this story since it’s been awhile, Save Jerseyans, click here to visit our archives. We’ll keep you in the loop.
