Visclosky’s Ethics Case Gets Second Look

Information about the no-bid contracts Hoosier Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-1st, obtained for businesses that gave him money for re-election expenses will be turned over to the Justice Department, an independent ethics board announced Thursday.

The office, which advises the House ethics committee, previously said there was enough evidence against Visclosky and one other lawmaker to warrant further investigation. But the five Democratic and five Republican House members on the ethics committee voted unanimously that the lawmakers in question did nothing wrong.

Visclosky has denied any wrongdoing.

Visclosky and others were accused of soliciting campaign donations in exchange for government grants and contracts of the clients of PMA Group, a now-defunct lobbying firm. A subcommittee Visclosky chairs has approved projects for PMA’s clients, and Visclosky has received campaign donations from PMA, its clients and its officers. Visclosky’s former chief of staff was one of PMA’s lobbyists.

Read more: (Sylvia A. Smith, “Visclosky’s ethics case gets 2nd look,” The Journal Gazette, 05/28/2010)