House ethics investigators put the screws to more than 30 lawmakers

The activities of more than 30 lawmakers and several aides have been under investigation by the House ethics committee since July according to a report accidently discovered on a file-sharing network.  Ethics committee inquiries include, but are not limited to, inappropriate defense lobbying and corporate influence peddling.

The ethics committee is one of the most secretive panels in Congress, and its members and staff members sign oaths not to disclose any activities related to its past or present investigations. Watchdog groups have accused the committee of not actively pursuing inquiries; the newly disclosed document indicates the panel is conducting far more investigations than it had revealed. [WAPO]

The 22-page "Committee on Standards Weekly Summary Report" gives brief summaries of ethics panel investigations of the conduct of 19 lawmakers and a few staff members. It also outlines the work of the new Office of Congressional Ethics, a quasi-independent body that initiates investigations and provides recommendations to the ethics committee. The document indicated that the office was reviewing the activities of 14 other lawmakers. Some were under review by both ethics bodies. [WAPO]