OCE Referral Regarding Mr. David Bowser

OCE Referral Regarding David Bowser

OCE Referral Regarding David Bowser Exhibits 1 of 4
OCE Referral Regarding David Bowser Exhibits 2 of 4
OCE Referral Regarding David Bowser Exhibits 3 of 4
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On March 23, 2016, the Office of Congressional Ethics transmitted a referral to the Committee on Ethics of the United States House of Representatives regarding Mr. David Bowser.

Nature of the Review

David Bowser served as the Chief of Staff to Representative Paul Broun in 2014, at the time that the Office of Congressional Ethics ("OCE") was conducting a review of the allegation that Representative Broun misused official funds to pay a communications advisor for work performed for his congressional campaigns.

During the course of the OCE's review of Representative Broun, the OCE interviewed both Mr. Bowser and the communications advisor. The communications advisor subsequently pleaded guilty to making false statements to the OCE during his interview. Court filings indicate that Mr. Bowser may have attempted to influence the communications advisor's testimony to the OCE and may have made false statements to the OCE during his own interview.

If Mr. Bowser attempted to obstruct the OCE's review, persuaded or conspired with the communications advisor to make false statements to the OCE, or himself made false statements to the OCE, then he may have violated federal law and House rules.

OCE Recommendation

The Board recommended that the Committee on Ethics further review the allegation that Mr. Bowser attempted to obstruct the OCE's review of Representative Broun, by persuading or conspiring with the communications advisor to make false statements to the OCE, as there is substantial reason to believe that Mr. Bowser did so, in violation of federal law and House rules.

The Board further recommended that the Committee on Ethics further review the allegation that Mr. Bowser himself made false statements to the OCE, as there is substantial reason to believe that Mr. Bowser made false statements during an interview with the OCE, in violation of federal law and House rules.

Committee Action

The Committee on Ethics made no public statement regarding this matter.

Public Disclosure

Pursuant to section 1(f)(1)(B) of H. Res. 895, on May 20, 2016, the Board of the Office of Congressional Ethics voted unanimously to release the OCE's report and findings concerning former House employee Mr. David Bowser, as the Board determined that release was mandated by the Resolution and House rules.