The House Ethics Committee is investigating Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., and his chief of staff, Richard Oliver Schwab, for possible ethics violations, the panel announced Thursday.
The probe, which the ethics panel plans to conclude after the November election, came after a referral from the outside ethics watchdog group established by House lawmakers.
It also follows a Washington Examiner report on Schwab’s outside earnings.
The Office of Congressional Ethics received a complaint that Schwab broke federal law by “receiving earned income in excess of the outside earned income limit for senior staffers.” It also alleged Schwab made illegal and improper campaign contributions to Schweikert.
The House ethics panel said the decision to open a formal investigation is not an indication that either of the men are guilty of violating ethics rules.
The Washington Examiner‘s investigation found Schwab’s earnings far exceeded his annual salary of $168,411, the maximum allowed under House rules.
Schwab earned an additional $164,887 from Schweikert’s various campaign committees. Of that, $137,709 was billed as consulting fees.
In April, the Washington Examiner reported that FEC public disclosures showed Schwab repaid Schweikert more than $50,000 for “erroneous reimbursements.”
