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Ethics probe continues

Posted in:

* Sun-Times

The House Committee on Ethics announced on Monday it will continue a review of whether Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., violated House rules and federal law through a hiring agreement he made with his former chief of staff, Doug Scofield, while declining to take the more serious step of creating a special panel to investigate the allegations.

The committee chairman, Rep. Michael Conway, R-Texas, and ranking member, Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., said in a four-paragraph statement they will continue to “gather additional information necessary” for the review and did not set a timetable for their work to be completed.

At issue is the $590,000 Scofield received over 10 years from federal funds allocated to run Gutierrez’s congressional office.

The ethics probe is looking at whether Scofield functioned as a contractor — which is permissible — or if his long-term relationship with Gutierrez’s congressional office was really more like that of a consultant who performed more like an employee, which is not allowed. […]

“Today’s announcement by the Committee reveals that it will not convene a special ethics panel. As the Committee reviews this matter, Congressman Gutiérrez and his office will continue to cooperate fully. As the Committee points out, its review does not indicate that any violation has occurred or reflect any judgment on behalf of the Committee,” Gutierrez spokesman Doug Rivlin said in a statement.

“After its exhaustive review, the OCE made a single recommendation that the House Committee on Ethics assess whether the approved contract was permissible under ambiguous House rules.”

Go read the whole thing. The report is here. Scofield declined to cooperate.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, May 5, 14 @ 2:56 pm

Comments

  1. In Luis Gutierrez’s district: this can only help. I’ll bet he’ll win the election with even bigger totals than last time. Life is great when Mike Madigan draws you the ultimate in gerrymandered districts.

    Comment by Steve Monday, May 5, 14 @ 3:18 pm

  2. Luis, Luis, Luis, made a good living flipping property back in the day. Had that Rezmar rehab crew on speed dial and an uncanny eye for good deals.

    Luis is one of the many Illinois pols that you hope one day writes a candid book (probably published posthumously) that fills in some of the blanks.

    Big Jim sure could write one. Eddie V. Burke. MJM. Daley. Ryan. Pate.

    Comment by wordslinger Monday, May 5, 14 @ 3:19 pm

  3. Mr/Ms Wordslinger you left out blinkJim Edgar
    TwoPartyEd, Jim Dvorak and O’Grady
    Then Stu Levine’s college roommate,jimRYAN…..that list is long

    What is Dougie up to these days?

    Comment by CircularFiringSquad Monday, May 5, 14 @ 3:49 pm

  4. In the words of Bernie Stone, in yelling at LG when both where in the City Council; ” You little pipsqueak!”

    Comment by Mr. Big Trouble Monday, May 5, 14 @ 4:27 pm

  5. Linda Sanchez ? That’s the fox watching the hen house.

    Comment by Anonymous Monday, May 5, 14 @ 6:05 pm

  6. I’m with everyone else on the topic of Luis. I do not understand what some people see in him.

    Comment by Belle Monday, May 5, 14 @ 6:34 pm

  7. CFC, that’s a good list.

    Who’s Two-Party Ed? Kelly? Saw him downtown a few weeks ago. Dude has staying power.

    Comment by wordslinger Monday, May 5, 14 @ 9:13 pm

  8. ==I’m with everyone else on the topic of Luis. I do not understand what some people see in him.==

    Maybe try being the target of racist political disenfranchisement for years and years along with an (un)healthy dose of racial resentment for a couple decades and then you’ll see why people like LG. He’s been a (somewhat) progressive fighter for Hispanic people in Chicago.

    Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, May 6, 14 @ 12:07 am

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