Full Statement by Chair and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Standards and Official Conduct on Congresswoman Laura Richardson
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Statement by Congresswoman Richardson
(Oct. 29, 2009) -- Below is a link to the full statement by the Chair and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Standards and Official Conduct on Congresswoman Laura Richardson.
Based on the Committee's initial investigation and review of OCE's [independent Office of Congressional Ethics] report and findings, the Committee exercised its authority under House and Committee rules to empanel an investigative subcommittee to obtain and review additional evidence necessary to make a determination as to whether Representatives Richardson violated House Rules or any applicable statutes.
[T]he investigative subcommittee shall have jurisdiction to determine whether Representative Laura Richardson violated House Rules, the Code of Official Conduct or the Ethics in Government Act by failing to disclose certain real property. income and liabilities on her financial disclosure forms (and amendments thereto) and whether Representative Richardson received an impermissible "gift" or received preferential treatment from her lender relating to the foreclosure, rescission of the foreclosure sale or loan modification agreement for or relating to her property in Sacramento, California.
Congresswoman Richardson has released the following statement in response:
Like 4.3 million Americans in the last year who faced financial problems because of a personal crisis like a divorce, death in the family, unexpected job and living changes and an erroneous property sale, all of which I have experienced in; the span of slightly over a year, I have worked to resolve a personal financial situation.
But unlike other Americans, I have been subjected to premature judgments, speculation and baseless distractions that will finally be addressed in a fair, unbiased, bi-partisan evaluation of the facts.
I hope that the Committee, despite its full schedule, now can quickly close the book, while I keep working on the issues that matter to my constituents: enacting the most historic healthcare coverage in decades, facilitating over eight secretary and chairman visits, and delivering over 32 million dollars that will be used to build roads, create job centers, and strengthen businesses and schools.
