The House Ethics Committee is considering whether to investigate accusations that Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) improperly mixed campaign and official funds during her leadership race in 2012, sources familiar with the review tell NBC News.
The news was first reported by Politico.
According to NBC sources, the Office of Congressional Ethics began a review of the case last year after Todd Winer, a former McMorris Rodgers aide, accused her of mixing the funding streams to produce a video and binders about her achievements, as part of her successful campaign for House GOP conference chair.
But aides close to McMorris Rodgers say that they asked the Ethics Committee and House Administration many times whether she was allowed to use outside funds for the leadership race, and were told she was.
House ethics rules say members “may use campaign funds to pay for activities in furtherance of a campaign for one of the House leadership offices.” They also says mailings or receptions both in and out of House office buildings can be covered with those funds. But campaign funds and official funds can’t be mixed.
“We are confident that every activity was compliant with all federal laws, House rules, and Standards of Conduct,” McMorris Rodgers spokesman Nate Hodson said in a statement, “We are fully cooperating and look forward to seeing this matter dismissed.”









