OCE Referral Regarding Rep. Bobby Rush

OCE Referral Regarding Rep. Bobby Rush

On June 10, 2014, the Office of Congressional Ethics transmitted a referral to the Committee on Ethics of the United States House of Representatives regarding Rep. Bobby Rush.

Nature of Review

Representative Bobby Rush's state and federal campaign committees may have accepted in-kind contributions, in the form of free office rental space, in violation of Illinois state law, House rules, and federal law. By accepting these contributions, Representative Rush may have accepted gifts or special favors in violation of House rules and standards of conduct. Representative Rush's congressional campaign committee ("Citizens for Rush") may have also made donations to the Beloved Community Christian Church ("the Church") in violation of House rules and federal law.

OCE Recommendation

The Board of the OCE recommends that the Committee further review the above allegation concerning Representative Rush's office rental space because there is a substantial reason to believe that Representative Rush's state and federal campaign committees accepted in-kind contributions in violation of Illinois state law, House rules, and federal law.

The Board of the OCE recommends that the Committee further reviewthe above allegation concerning Representative Rush's office rental space because there is a substantial reason to believe that Representative Rush accepted impermissible gifts or special favors in violation of House rules and standards of conduct.

The Board of the OCE also recommends that the Committee dismiss the above allegation concerning Citizens for Rush's donations to the Church because there is nota substantial reason to believe a violation of House rules, standards of conduct, or federal law occurred.

Committee Conclusion

On November 10, 2014, the Committee on Ethics released a statement indicating it would continue to gather information necessary to complete its review. The Committee published the OCE report and findings and announced the allegations would be further reviewed pursuant to Committee Rule 18(a).