WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11th Dist.) is facing more heat after a watchdog group filed an ethics complaint against him over a fundraising letter outing a local bank executive's activism to her employer.

The complaint was filed by the Campaign for Accountability, some of whose advisory board members have ties to the Democratic Party.

The group, in its complaint, requested an investigation by the Office of Congressional Ethics into whether Frelinghuysen violated House ethics rules by singling out Saily Avelenda in the postscript of a letter to a board member of the bank.

"The House ethics committee requires members to act in a way that 'reflects creditably on the House,'" Campaign for Accountability executive director Daniel E. Stevens said in a statement. "If trying to get someone fired for exercising her constitutional right to engage in political activity doesn't reflect poorly on the House, what does?"

The OCE investigates alleged ethical violations by members of Congress, and, based on an investigation's findings, the office then refers cases to the House ethics committee for further review. The House committee, which could take several actions against a member, including censure, is now headed by a Republican.

Avelenda was a senior vice president and assistant general counsel at Lakeland Bank in March when Frelinghuysen sent the letter to the board member saying she was one of the "ringleaders" of NJ 11th for Change.

"There's only one reason he did that," Avelenda told NJ Advance Media. "It wasn't innocuous. It was done to cause me trouble."

NJ 11th for Change has been pressuring Frelinghuysen for months to hold an in-person town hall with his constituents in his district, which he hasn't done since 2013, and has criticized him over his support of President Donald Trump's agenda and the proposed repeal of the Affordable Care Act.

Avelenda said she was forced to write a statement explaining her actions to her CEO, and that the letter "was a factor" in her decision to resign from her position.

The fundraising letter -- and an attached newspaper article about Avelenda -- was sent to Joseph O'Dowd, a Lakeland Bank board member. According to Federal Election Commission records, O'Dowd donated $700 to Frelinghuysen in previous elections, and, days after the March letter, another $250.

Frelinghuysen's letter spurred outrage over social media on Monday as news of the story went viral.

Assemblyman John F. McKeon, who is also being wooed by Democrats to challenge Frelinghuysen, said he has "significant concerns" about Frelinghuysen's statement.

"Referencing this note as innocuous is troubling," he said. "It can well be interpreted as a direct attempt to intimidate through inappropriate means a thoughtful individual exercising their constitutionally guaranteed rights. The specter of using ones position in such a manner has serious implications and should be considered by the Office of Congressional Ethics."

Mikie Sherrill, who has announced her intention to seek the Democratic nomination in next year's race for the 11th district, said the complaint was "a step in the right direction."

"As a former federal prosecutor, I am appalled that Rep. Frelinghuysen used the power of his office to intimidate and target one of his own constituents," she said. "It is frankly chilling, and clearly deserves further scrutiny. This abuse of power demonstrates why he needs to go next November."

Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.