OCE Referral Regarding Rep. John Campbell

OCE Referral Regarding Rep. John Campbell

On September 1, 2010, the OCE transmitted a referral to the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the United States House of Representatives regarding Representative John Campbell.

Nature of Review

H.R. 4173, formally known as the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2009 (hereafter the "Financial Reform Bill") was reported out of the Committee on Financial Services on the afternoon of December 2, 2009. The Financial Reform Bill was passed by the House on December 11, 2009. Previously, while the Committee on Financial Services marked up two pieces of legislation that would later be incorporated within the Financial Reform Bill, Representative Campbell held a "Financial Services Dinner." Further, in the nine day period between December 2nd and December 11th, Representative Campbell held two fundraising events for his campaign committee. At one fundraising event, two days before the final vote, all attendees were entities or individuals registered to lobby on the Financial Reform Bill. At another event on the same day, ten out of eleven attendees were entities or individuals registered to lobby on the Financial Reform Bill. In addition, Representative Campbell's professional fundraiser offered one-on-one meetings between Representative Campbell and entities registered to lobby on the Financial Reform Bill during the nine day period noted above.

If Representative Campbell solicited or accepted contributions in a manner which gave the appearance that special treatment or access was being provided to donors or the appearance that the contributions were linked to an official act, then he may have violated House Rules and Standards of Conduct.

OCE Recommendation

The Board of the Office of Congressional Ethics recommended that the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct further review the above allegations because there is a substantial reason to believe that Representative Crowley solicited or accepted contributions in a manner which gave the appearance that special treatment or access was provided to donors or that contributions were linked to an official act.

Committee Conclusion

On January 26, 2011, the Committee determined not to take further action regarding this matter and adopted the Committee staff recommendationto dismiss the matter and consider it closed.