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Schweikert investigation expands

Posted 12/31/18

An investigative subcommittee (ISC) established by the House Ethics Committee in June to investigate spending practices within the office of Congressman David Schweikert (R-6 Arizona) has been …

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Schweikert investigation expands

Posted

An investigative subcommittee (ISC) established by the House Ethics Committee in June to investigate spending practices within the office of Congressman David Schweikert (R-6 Arizona) has been authorized to expand the scope of that investigation.

The ISC was initially charged with looking into whether Schweikert’s former chief of staff, Oliver Schwab, may have used or authorized expenditures from Schweikert’s Members’ Representational Allowance for improper uses; whether Schweikert’s campaign committee may have received improper campaign contributions from Schwab and other individuals employed in his congressional office; whether Schwab received compensation in excess of an income limit for senior staff and whether Schwab failed to file complete disclosure statements as required by House rules.

In September the Office of Congressional Ethic referred additional information to the ISC for investigation.

The initial investigation is based on a complaint filed a year ago by a Democratic activist from Scottsdale.

On Dec. 20, the House Ethics Committee released a letter outlining additional allegations to be included in the inquiry, including whether Schweikert violated the Code of Conduct or any laws, rules or regulations in performance of his duties.

These allegations include Schweikert possibly using official resources to benefit his campaign or pressuring staff to perform political activity; Schweikert may have authorized compensation to an employee who did not perform duties commensurate with his House employment; Schweikert or his campaign committee may have received loans or gifts from a congressional employee; and Schweikert man have omitted required information from his annual House financial disclosure statements and Federal Election Commission Candidate committee reports.

The statement from the committee notes that “the mere fact of an investigation into these allegations does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred.”

The committee makes no public comment except in accordance with committee rules.

In a statement provided to the Arizona Republic regarding the matter, Schweikert said, “We look forward to providing any information necessary to the committee to resolve this matter.”

At the time the initial investigation was disclosed in June, Schweikert characterized the issues as book keeping errors that had been resolved with the replacement of a vendor.

Schweikert, a Fountain Hills resident, has maintained that he is working with the committee to demonstrate that the issues are being resolved.

Schweikert was re-elected in November to continue representing Arizona Congressional District 6, which includes Fountain Hills.