OCE Referral Regarding Rep. Donald Payne
On June 8, 2009, the OCE transmitted a referral to the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the United States House of Representatives regarding Representative Donald Payne.
Nature of Review
There is substantial reason to believe that Congressman Donald Payne’s participation in the 13th Annual Caribbean Multi-National Business Conference in St. Maarten, N.A. from November 6-9, 2008, his acceptance of reimbursement of expenses to attend that conference and the Member Post Travel Disclosure Form he filed violated various provisions of House Rule XXV Section 5(b).
OCE Recommendation
The Board of the OCE recommended that the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct further review the above allegations.
Committee Conclusion
On June 24, 2009, the Committee established an Investigative Subcommittee to conduct an inquiry regarding this matter.
On February 26, 2010, the Committee released a report from the Subcommittee finding that Representative Payne did not knowingly commit a violation, but inadvertently received impermissible gifts of travel that required repayment.