Rep. David Schweikert said in an interview that he welcomed the investigation, calling the issue a matter of “clerical mistakes” rather than an intentional violation of House ethics rules. | J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo Ethics Committee launches full-scale probe into Schweikert and top aide

The House Ethics Committee has launched a wide-ranging investigation into GOP Rep. David Schweikert and his chief of staff, Oliver Schwab, over allegations the Arizona Republican misspent official funds and received illegal campaign contributions from Schwab and other employees, according to a statement from the secretive panel.

The probe follows a recommendation from the Office of Congressional Ethics — the independent ethics watchdog — that the Ethics Committee further explore Schweikert and Schwab’s activities.


Schweikert said in an interview that he welcomed the investigation, calling the issue a matter of “clerical mistakes” rather than an intentional violation of House ethics rules. Schweikert has repeatedly downplayed the issue since the scandal broke last year.

“It’s wonderful, because we have been asking to have a formal review so we can present our information since almost December,” Schweikert said of the investigation. Schweikert said he plans to meet with ethics investigators soon to make a presentation in the case.

The Ethics Committee has created a special investigative subcommittee to conduct the Schweikert probe, according to the announcement from Reps. Susan Brooks (R-Ind.) and Ted Deutch (D-Fla.), chairwoman and ranking member of the panel. Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) will serve as chairman of the investigative subcommittee, with Steve Cohen (D-Tenn) as the ranking member. Reps. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) and Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) are the other two members on the special panel.

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The Ethics Committee's announcement of the Schweikert investigation also indicated the allegations against the Arizona Republican and his top staffer are far broader than previously known.

“Pursuant to the Committee’s action, the Investigative Subcommittee shall have jurisdiction to determine whether Representative David Schweikert and/or Richard Oliver Schwab may have used or authorized expenditures from Representative Schweikert’s Members’ Representational Allowance for impermissible purposes; Representative Schweikert’s campaign committees may have received improper campaign contributions from Mr. Schwab and other individuals employed in his congressional office; Mr. Schwab may have received income in excess of the outside earned income limit for senior staff; and Mr. Schwab may have failed to file full and complete financial disclosure statements in violation of House Rules, law, regulations, or other standards of conduct,” Brooks and Deutch said in their statement.

An investigative subcommittee — unlike OCE — has the power to issue subpoenas as part of its probe. The special panel will make a recommendation on the case to the full Ethics Committee, which will then decide how to act on the matter. The Ethics Committee can recommend sanctions against a member or drop the case if the investigation finds no wrongdoing.

There is no time limit on an Ethics Committee investigation, but if it lasts into the next Congress, the panel would have to vote to continue the case.

At issue for Schweikert is whether tens of thousands of dollars in payments to a Schwab-owned consulting firm violated House ethics rules. These payments may have violated the limit on outside income for senior congressional aides. For instance, in 2014, Schwab's consulting firm, Chartwell Associates, received more than $109,000 in consulting fees. Schwab, who has been Schweikert's chief of staff since 2011, is the only employee of that firm. Under House rules, the limit on outside income for a congressional staffer was just under $27,000 that year.

Schwab repaid Schweikert's campaign more than $50,000 earlier this year, according to a campaign disclosure report.

The investigation into Schweikert and Schwab began after a complaint was filed with OCE by an Arizona Democratic activist. That complaint followed reports in the Washington Examiner on Schwab's company and its interactions with Schweikert's official office and reelection campaign.

Despite the Ethics Committee announcement, Schweikert insists the issue is more one of inaccurate paperwork than any violation.

"This is purely clerical," Schweikert said. "We buy coffee, it's on [Schwab's] credit card and we reimburse him. And when they did the reimbursements, they marked it as income instead of reimbursements. So know we have to unwind all of those."

Schweikert added: "It's annoying, but it's just the way it works. ... I think everyone is going to be happy with how we've unwound the clerical mistakes."