WASHINGTON _ Florida's Ted Deutch will lead the House Ethics panel in the 116th Congress, which has taken on high-profile investigations of members in recent years.
"House Democrats are thrilled to welcome Congressman Ted Deutch as Chair of the Ethics Committee, where his towering integrity and firm commitment to fairness and justice will be invaluable to our mission to restore transparency, ethics and accountability to the Congress," Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement Wednesday. As leader of her party, Pelosi appoints the Ethics chair, along with other positions such as leading the House Administration Committee and Rules Committee.
Deutch has been the top Democrat on the panel, and with his party taking control of the chamber, he'll take the gavel for the 116th Congress.
"With Congressman Deutch at the helm, the Ethics Committee will spearhead our work to return dignity and accountability to the Congress, and ensure our elected officials are held to the highest ethical standards," said Pelosi "Together, we will restore the people's faith that government works for the public interest instead of the special interests, ensuring that all Members of Congress faithfully honor the people's sacred trust."
The 10-member House Ethics Committee is the only House standing committee that is evenly divided between the parties.
Texan Kenny Marchant will be the top Republican on the panel, replacing Indiana's Susan W. Brooks, who had served on the committee for three terms. House rules bar members from sitting on the House Ethics panel for more than three congresses, unless the member leads the panel in their fourth term.
Marchant ended the current congress as the second ranking GOP member of the committee, but only after Rep. Patrick Meehan resigned in April from the House to end the Ethics Committee's investigation into allegations he sexually harassed a former staffer. The panel's investigation into Meehan halted after he left the House.
