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OCE Referral Regarding Mr. Oliver Schwab

June 12, 2019
Investigations

OCE Referral Regarding Mr. Oliver Schwab

OCE Referral Regarding Mr. Oliver Schwab Exhibits 1 of 4
OCE Referral Regarding Mr. Oliver Schwab Exhibits 2 of 4
OCE Referral Regarding Mr. Oliver Schwab Exhibits 3 of 4
OCE Referral Regarding Mr. Oliver Schwab Exhibits 4 of 4

On April 16, 2018, the Office of Congressional Ethics transmitted a referral to the Committee on Ethics of the United States House of Representatives regarding Mr. Oliver Schwab.

Nature of the Review

Richard Oliver Schwab, Jr., Chief of Staff to Rep. David Schweikert, may have received income beyond the House of Representatives' outside earned income limit for senior staff. If Mr. Schwab received income beyond the outside earned income limit for senior staff, then he may have violated House rules, standards of conduct, and federal law.

Mr. Schwab, while employed in Rep. Schweikert's congressional office, may have made personal outlays on behalf of Rep. Schweikert's principal campaign committees, for which he was subsequently reimbursed. If Mr. Schwab made contributions to his employing Member through these personal outlays, then Mr. Schwab may have violated House rules, standards of conduct, and federal law.

Mr. Schwab, as Chief of Staff to Rep. David Schweikert, may have made expenditures or received reimbursements from the Members' Representational Allowance ("MRA") that were not for official expenses. If Mr. Schwab made expenditures or received reimbursements from the MRA that were not for official expenses, then he may have violated House rules, standards of conduct, and federal law.

OCE Recommendation

The Board recommends that the Committee further review the above allegations concerning Mr. Schwab because there is substantial reason to believe that Mr. Schwab received income beyond the House's outside earned income limit for senior staff.

The Board recommends that the Committee further review the above allegations concerning Mr. Schwab because there is substantial reason to believe that Mr. Schwab made impermissible contributions to his employing Member through reimbursed personal outlays.

The Board recommends that the Committee further review the above allegations concerning Mr. Schwab because there is substantial reason to believe that Mr. Schwab made expenditures or received reimbursements from the MRA that were not for official expenses.

Committee Action

On June 28, 2018, the Committee established an Investigative Subcommittee to conduct an inquiry regarding this matter.

Public Disclosure

Pursuant to section 1(f)(1)(B) of H. Res. 895, on June 7, 2019, the Board of the Office of Congressional Ethics voted unanimously to release the OCE's report and findings concerning former House employee Mr. Oliver Schwab, as the Board determined that release was mandated by the Resolution and House rules.