Statement of the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Ethics Regarding Representative Michael Grimm
Pursuant to House Rule XI, clause 3(b)(8)(C)(ii) and Committee Rule 17 A(h)(2), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Ethics (Committee) determined on November 26, 2014, to release the following statement:
On June 29, 2012, the Committee received a referral from the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) regarding whether Representative Michael Grimm may have violated federal campaign finance laws by soliciting and accepting prohibited campaign contributions, caused false information to be included in campaign finance reports, and improperly sought assistance from a foreign national in soliciting campaign contributions in exchange for offering to use his official position to assist that individual in obtaining a green card. In response to a request from the Department of Justice, the Committee unanimously voted to defer consideration of this matter, and announced that deferral in a public statement dated November 26, 2012.
The Department of Justice has asked the Committee to continue to defer consideration of this matter and the Committee, following precedent, agreed to continue to defer consideration of this matter at this time. At least annually, the Committee will make a public statement if it continues to defer taking action on the matter. The Committee previously made a similar statement on November 26, 2013. The Committee notes that the mere fact of conducting further review of a referral, and any mandatory disclosure of such further review, does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred, or reflect any judgment on behalf of the Committee.