Shuler Contributed to ‘Appearance’ of Special Treatment

The inspector general of the Tennessee Valley Authority has forwarded to the House ethics committee a report saying that Rep. Heath Shuler contributed to the appearance of preferential treatment when he was an investor in a development that sought water access from the authority.

The inspector general drew no conclusions, however, about whether Shuler violated House ethics rules.

The report noted that Shuler, D-N.C., was a member of the House subcommittee that directly oversees the TVA at the time that the developers, the Cove at Blackberry Ridge, sought lakefront access near Knoxville, Tenn.

Read more: (Bennett Roth, “Report Says Rep. Shuler Contributed to ‘Appearance’ of Special Treatment,” CQ Today, 6/09/09)