Latest News
Apr 2, 2010
News Article
Ever since the semi-independent Office of Congressional Ethics was created two years ago to vet allegations against lawmakers, cynics wondered how soon it would fall into the find-no-evil track record of the House ethics committee it serves.
Apr 1, 2010
News Article
AMONG THE many frustrating aspects of the congressional ethics process is the fact that, in the rare circumstances when the ethics committees seem poised to act against a member of Congress, lawmakers can short-circuit the inquiry by resigning. Once they're out the door, Congress loses its jurisdiction to discipline them.
Mar 22, 2010
News Article
WASHINGTON — By most measures, it has been a rough year for Leo J. Wise, the first independent ethics cop for the House of Representatives.
Mar 10, 2010
News Article
Melanie Sloan talked about the roles and effectiveness of the House Office of Congressional Ethics and what the Washington Post called the “thin wall” separating lobbyist contributions and earmarks.?She responded to telephone calls and electronic communications.
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Mar 6, 2010
News Article
Just as the cherry blossoms arrive each spring around the capital's Tidal Basin, cases of Congressional ethics appear to be blooming everywhere in Washington. Harlem Congressman Charlie Rangel's Ways and Means Chairmanship floated away this week. New York Congressman Eric Mass dropped his House seat via retirement ahead of sexual harassment allegations.
Mar 3, 2010
News Article
WASHINGTON — Watchdog groups are calling for a revamp of congressional ethics rules after the House ethics panel exonerated a dozen lawmakers in two separate investigations.
Mar 2, 2010
News Article
When the House Ethics Committee dropped charges against seven members of the Appropriations Committee last week, it signaled that lawmakers can keep on directing that federal dollars be spent with contractors who give them campaign contributions. But it looks a lot like condoning practices that the committee rejected just a few years ago.
Jan 14, 2010
Press Advisories
The Office of Congressional Ethics, established by the House of Representatives, is an independent, non-partisan entity charged with receiving and reviewing allegations of misconduct concerning House Members and staff and, when appropriate, referring matters to the Committee on Ethics.
Nov 12, 2009
News Article
The House ethics committee is openly — and foolishly — sniping at its newly appointed ally in the difficult task of policing members’ behavior.
Sep 16, 2009
Press Advisories
STATEMENT OF THE CHAIR AND CO-CHAIRMAN OF THE OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL ETHICS REGARDING THE OCE’S REFERRAL OF
REPRESENTATIVE SAM GRAVES TO THE COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT.The press release is posted on the OCE’s website http://oce.house.gov.