Everyday watchdog journalism and everyday Washington corruption

Just over a year ago, the Office of Congressional Ethics voted unanimously to refer an ethics complaint to the House Committee on Ethics. The individuals under scrutiny were Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., and his chief of staff Oliver Schwab. The matter was the large amounts of money flowing to Schwab from Schweikert’s campaign committees and congressional office.

A year later, the committee is still untangling this knotty web of salaries, reimbursements, consulting fees, and campaign contributions, and the referral has just become public. Schwab and Schweikert both proclaim innocence. They have not been charged with breaking any law, and they have not been found guilty of violating any ethics rules.