Ethics panel seeks data on 8 lawmakers

WASHINGTON, June 14 (UPI) -- A House ethics office has asked lobbyists for fundraising and campaign contribution data concerning five Republican and three Democrats, documents indicated.

Unclear was why the Office of Congressional Ethics was investigating the eight congressional members, but two Republican members indicated the probe may deal with the financial regulatory reform bill the House passed last year, The Hill first reported Monday.

The lawmakers are Republicans John Campbell of California, Jeb Hensarling of Texas, Christopher Lee of New York, Frank Lucas of Oklahoma and Tom Price of Georgia, and Democrats Joe Crowley of New York, Earl Pomeroy of North Dakota and Mel Watt of North Carolina.

Hensarling spokesman George Rasley said the congressman wasn't informed of any specific charge when he was notified by the OCE about a preliminary review it is conducting concerning contributions Hensarling received Dec. 2-11 "that a source unidentified to him claimed may have influenced his opposition" to the financial reform bill.

"Congressman Hensarling categorically denies any implication of influence and looks forward to clearing up this false charge," Rasley said in an e-mail to The Hill.

Price said the OCE preliminary review "is without any merit whatsoever."

Lee spokesman Matthew Harakal called the probe a "routine audit" and said his boss is cooperating. 
 


"Chris believes strongly in accountability and is happy to comply with the OCE's request," Harakal said.

Brent Hall, a spokesman for Campbell, also characterized the investigation as "routine," saying the congressman's office was "cooperating fully, and look forward to an expedient and favorable resolution."

Offices for the other representatives either declined to comment or couldn't be reached, The Hill said.

No Republican voted for the bill, which is being merged with a Senate companion measure. Most House Democrats, including Crowley, Pomeroy and Watt, voted for the legislation that passed Dec. 11.

The OCE said on its Web site it began 48 preliminary review inquiries during the 111th Congress through the first quarter of this year, of which nearly half didn't advance to the next investigatory stage.