WASHINGTON _ The House Ethics Committee voted unanimously Thursday to expand the scope of its inquiry into Rep. David Schweikert to include allegations that the Arizona Republican may have used official resources to benefit his campaign and omitted required information from his annual House financial disclosure statements and Federal Election Commission candidate committee reports.
The committee impaneled an investigative subcommittee in June to examine Schweikert and Oliver Schwab, his chief of staff. Schwab was allegedly paid by Schweikert's campaign beyond the limit for outside earned income for senior congressional staffers. Schwab announced his resignation in July, saying he was having surgery and would work as a U.S. Coast Guard licensed maritime captain.
The expansion of the subcommittee's investigation also includes allegations that Schweikert pressured congressional staff members to perform political activities and "authorized compensation to an employee who did not perform duties commensurate with his House employment," which is what the committee has used to refer to off-the-books settlements in the past.
The subcommittee will also be looking into whether Schweikert or his campaign committee may have received loans or gifts from a congressional employee.
On Sept. 5, the Office of Congressional Ethics sent an additional referral to the House Ethics Committee regarding Schweikert. The committee's vote to expand its inquiry is a response to new issues raised in the OCE's latest transmission.
