Leaked report shows how ethics panel works

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- The U.S. House ethics panel's weekly summary posted on a public network shows more than 25 Democrats and seven Republicans were targets of ethics reviews.

The confidential report, prepared in July, was posted by accident on a publicly accessible file-sharing computer network, and a copy was provided to The Washington Post by someone not involved in the investigations.

The document also calls into question House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's promise to "drain the swamp" of corruption as Republicans cry foul over the California Democrat's declining to strip committee chairmanships from close allies such as Reps. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., and John Murtha, D-Pa., the Post said.

Rangel and Murtha are chairmen who already were known to be under ethics investigation.

But its release also provides an answer to critics who question whether the panel of six Democrats and six Republicans has taken its work seriously, prompting ethics watchdogs to praise the House panel and the new Office of Congressional Ethics.

"Both groups are seriously pursuing their ethics responsibilities at this stage," six groups said in a joint statement.

The document covered all activity undertaken by the ethics committee staff for the week of July 27, the Post said. For example, one lawyer fielded 21 phone calls from aides seeking guidance on House rules, reviewed 43 travel requests reviewed seven financial disclosure forms.

Committee on Standards of Official Conduct Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., interrupted floor voting Thursday to alert House members bout the breach, cautioning that some panel activities were preliminary, not a conclusive finding. Rep. Jo Bonner, R-Ala., the committee's ranking Republican, said the matter was an isolated incident.