House Panel Extends Ethics Reviews of 2 House Members
WASHINGTON — The House Ethics Committee announced on Friday that it was extending its reviews of two members of Congress who have been accused in separate cases of improprieties involving their outside business interests.
The two lawmakers — Representatives Vern Buchanan, Republican of Florida, and Shelley Berkley, Democrat of Nevada — each predicted that the Ethics Committee would ultimately find no wrongdoing.
The Ethics Committee has been investigating Mr. Buchanan’s failure to disclose in full 17 outside business interests in his public financial filings. One of the richest members of Congress, Mr. Buchanan made a fortune as an auto dealer and has also been involved in land and development deals in Florida.
In addition to the disclosure issues, several of Mr. Buchanan’s car dealerships were found to have used illegal “straw” donations to reimburse employees for contributions to Mr. Buchanan’s Congressional campaigns. While some employees testified that Mr. Buchanan directed the reimbursements, he said he knew nothing about the practice.
Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/24/us/politics/panel-extends-ethics-reviews-of-vern-buchanan-and-shelley-berkley.html
