The U.S. House Ethics Committee has reprimanded Washington Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers for misusing taxpayer money and ordered her to reimburse more than $7,500 to the U.S. Treasury.
The committee sanctioned the 5th District Republican after a five-year investigation found a “concerning pattern” of paying official consultants using campaign funds or accepting voluntary services – in violation of House rules and laws. The panel’s extraordinarily long review described “sloppy practices” and record keeping stretching back to 2008, which contributed to the improper use of campaign funds.
The Ethics Committee also found evidence that McMorris Rodgers’ staffers “used official resources, including official staff time, congressional office space, and travel funds, for political activities.”
The ethics panel noted that McMorris Rodgers accepted responsibility for the findings, and has taken steps to prevent such conduct from happening in the future. (Spokesman-Review, Politico)
