House Republicans deny wrongdoing in the ethics panel’s investigation

Two Republican lawmakers are pushing back against news that the House Ethics Committee is expanding its investigation into them, although it is unclear whether the two cases are related.

The bipartisan House committee that reviews alleged misconduct among members and is tasked with matters by the Office of Congressional Ethics separately announced Thursday the investigations into Reps. Ronny Jackson (R-TX) and Wesley Hunt (R-TX). The announcements did not provide details about the allegations, which both members reportedly related to payments Republicans made from their campaign committees at private clubs.

In Jackson’s case, the House Ethics Committee’s comments Thursday came two years after the OCE released a report that found “substantial grounds to believe” that he used campaign funds for membership in a private social club.

“This baseless OCE complaint does not produce any new information and is still under review by the Ethics Committee despite more than two years,” a Jackson spokesperson said.

“Once again, Congressman Jackson has nothing to hide and he and his team have been fully compliant with the Ethics Committee from the start,” the spokesperson added. “Unfortunately, this is not the first time that the leftists in the OCE have decided to waste taxpayer money on the persecution of officials for absolutely no reason.”

A spokesperson for Hunt said the lawmaker has been “fully cooperating with the House Ethics Committee and is extremely confident that the matter will be dismissed shortly.”

Both announcements from the House Ethics Committee noted that the panel’s next course of action will come on or before June 24.

Meanwhile, the House Ethics Committee also released a statement Friday announcing that it is continuing to gather information for an ongoing review of Rep. Troy Nehls’ (R-TX) finances.

The OCE, the separate panel, had found in December that “there is probable cause to believe that Rep. Nehls may have converted campaign funds for personal use,” a report said. That report said Nehl’s campaign transferred money to certain companies he controlled.

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“The Office of Congressional Ethics was created under Nancy Pelosi, which is why I refused to work with the office,” Nehls told the Washington Examiner.

“My books remain open and I am working with the legitimate House Ethics Committee,” Nehls said.