All articles tagged with #ethics inquiry
The Senate Ethics Committee dismissed its investigation into Sen. Ruben Gallego after finding no evidence of violations of federal law or Senate rules, effectively clearing him of sexual-misconduct and campaign-finance allegations raised by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna; Gallego and his team say the charges were politically motivated and that no ethics action will proceed.
Two women allege Congressman Eric Swalwell sent unsolicited explicit messages; with ethics inquiries underway and his resignation imminent, Swalwell apologizes and denies sexual abuse as accusers say he must face consequences to prevent future harm, while other investigations into past misconduct continue.
The Senate Judiciary Committee has postponed a vote to subpoena associates of Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito after Republicans filed over 90 amendments to slow down the ethics inquiry. Democrats seek to understand the extent of gifts and luxury trips provided to the justices by Dallas billionaire Harlan Crow and conservative activist Leonard Leo. The amendments included subpoenas for Justice Sonia Sotomayor and her staff following reports of encouraging public institutions to purchase copies of her books. Democrats vow to press forward with the subpoenas, demanding information on transportation, lodging, gifts, and payments provided to the justices. The subpoenas would be the most aggressive step taken by Democrats to pressure the court to adopt an ethics code.
The Democratic-led Senate Judiciary Committee has postponed a vote on authorizing subpoenas for billionaire Republican donor Harlan Crow and conservative legal activist Leonard Leo, who have ties to conservative Supreme Court justices. The subpoenas are part of an ethics inquiry prompted by reports of undisclosed gifts to conservative justices. The delay is attributed to scheduling issues and Republican amendments proposing expanded subpoenas. Democrats argue that the subpoenas are necessary to address ethical concerns, while Republicans criticize the move as setting a dangerous precedent. The committee previously dropped its plan to subpoena another conservative donor after receiving withheld information. The committee approved a bill in July to establish a binding ethics code for justices, but it faces Republican opposition.