Statement of the Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Ethics Regarding Representative Chris Collins

Pursuant to Committee Rule 7(g), the Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Ethics (Committee) determined on October 12, 2017, to release the following statement:

On July 14, 2017, the Committee received a referral from the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) regarding Representative Chris Collins.  Pursuant to House Rule XI, clause 3(b)(8)(A) and Committee Rules 17A(b)(1)(A) and 17A(c)(1), the Chairwoman and Ranking Member jointly decided on August 28, 2017, to extend the Committee’s review of the matter.  In order to gather additional information necessary to complete its review, the Committee will review the matter pursuant to Committee Rule 18(a).  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.

In order to comply with Committee Rule 7 regarding confidentiality, out of fairness to all respondents, and to assure the integrity of its work, the Committee will refrain from making further public statements on this matter pending completion of its initial review.

Pursuant to Committee Rule 17A, the Committee hereby publishes OCE’s Report and Findings relating to allegations against Representative Collins, and Representative Collins’s response to OCE’s Report and Findings.