December 28, 2004

 

Statement of Chairman Joel Hefley and Ranking Minority Member Alan B. Mollohan

 

            On November 16, 2004 Representative David L. Hobson filed a complaint alleging that Representative Jim McDermott violated certain laws, rules and standards of conduct in disclosing to the news media the contents of an intercepted telephone conversation in January 1997.  That conversation related to committee proceedings regarding then-Representative Newt Gingrich.  Until mid-January 1997, Representative McDermott served as Ranking Minority Member of the House Select Committee on Ethics, which had been created at the beginning of the 105th Congress for sole purpose of completing action on a previously initiated case regarding Representative Gingrich.

 

            On November 18, 2004, we made the procedural determination under Committee Rule 16(a) that the complaint filed by Representative Hobson meets the requirements of the Committee’s rules for what constitutes a complaint, and further proceedings regarding the complaint have taken place under Committee Rules 16 and 17. 

 

            We have jointly determined, under Committee Rule 16(b)(2), to establish an investigative subcommittee and to forward portions of the complaint to that subcommittee.  The subcommittee will conduct an inquiry on allegations that Representative McDermott’s conduct violated the House Code of Official Conduct (clause 1 of which provides that Members and staff shall conduct themselves “at all times in a manner which shall reflect creditably on the House of Representatives”), provisions of the Code of Ethics for Government Service, the committee member non-disclosure agreement, or the Committee confidentiality rules.   

 

            Under Committee Rule 19(a), we have designated the following Members to serve on the investigative subcommittee.  Representative Judy Biggert will serve as Chairman, and Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard will serve as the Ranking Minority Member of the investigative subcommittee.  The other two members are Representative Phil English and Representative Robert C. “Bobby” Scott.

 

In accordance with Committee Rule 7 on confidentiality, there will be no further public comment on this matter from the Committee or its members except in the form of a joint statement by us or by the full Committee.  The text of the Committee Rules is available on the Committee Web site, www.house.gov/ethics.