Luis Gutierrez target of ethics review

Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill. is the target of a House Ethics Committee review for unspecified allegations, the panel said Thursday.

The Office of Congressional Ethics, responsible for investigation allegations against lawmakers, referred its findings to the House panel, the committee said in a statement. The recommendation is not itself an indication of Gutierrez's guilt.

A spokesman for the Chicago congressman said the investigation dealt with "whether a long-standing contract was allowable under House rules."

"The contract for services was renewed and approved by the House of Representatives and submitted for renewal each Congress for 10 years," Douglas Rivlin, the spokesman, continued. "It was consistently and properly reported. Rep. Gutierrez cancelled the contract last year."

“Rep. Gutierrez cooperated fully with the OCE during its review and will continue to do so with the Committee," Rivlin said.

The next action on the review is expected on or before May 5.

[House Committee on Ethics] [Rep. Gutierrez]