WASHINGTON, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- The U.S. House ethics panel will investigate Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., for potentially violating the federal and House ethical standards.
A four member investigative subcommittee was established by Committee Chairman Joel Hefley, R-Colo., and ranking Democrat Alan Mollohan of West Virginia Tuesday to examine whether McDermott violated House and government ethics standards for leaking an illegally recorded telephone conversation to journalists.
The phone call in question was taped by a Florida couple in 1997 and involved Rep. John Boehner's, R-Ohio, discussion of an ethics investigation of then-Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich.
Boehner successfully sued McDermott over the matter with U.S. District Judge Thomas Hogan ordering McDermott earlier this year to pay Boehner an estimated $600,000 for conduct he found rose to the level of malice.
McDermott is challenging that ruling.
The ethics complaint against McDermott was filed by Rep. David Hobson, R-Ohio.
