WASHINGTON - An ethics probe has been extended into the fundraising activity of North Dakota Democratic Rep. Earl Pomeroy and seven other congressmen.
According to The Hill, a D.C. congressional newspaper, the House Office of Congressional Ethics has sent at least four of the eight congressmen letters notifying them that it's extending the probe beyond its initial 30-day stage, or preliminary review.
The office appears to be focusing on fundraising between Dec. 2 and Dec. 11, 2009 - the day the House passed its version of the financial reform legislation. Pomeroy voted in favor of the reform bill.
The other congressmen being investigated are Joseph Crowley, D-N.Y.; Mel Watt, D-N.C.; John Campbell, R-Calif.; Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas; Chris Lee, R-N.Y.; Frank Lucas, R-Okla.; and Tom Price, R-Ga.
Now the ethics office has 30 more days to investigate and then can extend that to 45 days if there is "probable cause to believe allegations" - a slightly higher threshold than the "reasonable cause" required for a preliminary review, The Hill reported.
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-- Forum Communications
