House Ethics Panel Finds Richardson Broke Law, Obstructed Probe
The House Ethics Committee on Wednesday called for the full chamber to reprimand Rep. Laura Richardson, accusing the California Democrat of breaking federal law, violating House rules and obstructing the committee’s investigation.
In an unusually harsh report, the panel found that Richardson flouted the law by “improperly using House resources for campaign, personal, and nonofficial purposes; by requiring or compelling her official staff to perform campaign work,” and that she destroyed evidence, failed to produce subpoenaed documents and tried “to influence the testimony of witnesses.”
The House will vote Thursday on adopting the bipartisan Ethics Committee’s findings, which include a formal reprimand and a $10,000 fine. Richardson agreed to the panel’s conclusions in a negotiated settlement. The committee also said that it had issued letters admonishing two of Richardson’s aides, Chief of Staff Shirley Cooks and Deputy District Director Daysha Austin, after it negotiated settlements with them.
One Richardson aide, the panel found, was told by Cooks that the aide “would probably not have a job” unless the aide agreed to work on Richardson’s campaign. The aide was also directed to volunteer, using a fake name, to work for Richardson’s opponent to gather information about the rival’s campaign. Richardson has also continued to require congressional staff members work on her reelection campaign, even though she has been under investigation for more than 18 months.