Statement of the Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Ethics Regarding Representative David Schweikert and Richard Oliver Schwab
Pursuant to Committee Rule 7(g), the Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Ethics (Committee) determined to release the following statement:
In accordance with House Rule XI, clause 3, and Committee Rules 10(a)(2) and 18, the Committee unanimously voted on June 14, 2018, to establish an Investigative Subcommittee. Pursuant to the Committee’s action, the Investigative Subcommittee shall have jurisdiction to determine whether Representative David Schweikert and/or Richard Oliver Schwab may have used or authorized expenditures from Representative Schweikert’s Members’ Representational Allowance for impermissible purposes; Representative Schweikert’s campaign committees may have received improper campaign contributions from Mr. Schwab and other individuals employed in his congressional office; Mr. Schwab may have received income in excess of the outside earned income limit for senior staff; and Mr. Schwab may have failed to file full and complete financial disclosure statements in violation of House Rules, law, regulations, or other standards of conduct.
The Committee has determined to take this action based upon a review of referrals from the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) regarding these same matters. As provided by House Rule X, clause 1(g) and Committee Rule 17A, the Committee has exclusive jurisdiction over the interpretation, administration, and enforcement of the Code of Official Conduct. Consistent with the Committee’s rules, it reviews OCE’s reports and findings without prejudice or presumptions as to the merit of the allegations.
The Committee notes that the mere fact of establishing an Investigative Subcommittee does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred.
The Honorable John Ratcliffe will serve as Chairman of the Investigative Subcommittee, and the Honorable Steve Cohen will serve as the Ranking Member. The other two members of the Investigative Subcommittee are the Honorable Rodney Davis and the Honorable Hakeem Jeffries.
No other public comment will be made on this matter except in accordance with Committee rules. Pursuant to House Rule XI, Clause 3(b)(8)(B)(iii), and Committee Rule 17A(f)(1), no documents will be released at this time.