DEMOCRAT DIRTY LAUNDRY: Ethics Committee: Rep. Andrews Under the Microscope for Personal Spending Spree With Campaign Dollars

SPIN CYCLE: Then-Speaker Pelosi Promised That Democrats Would “Demand the Highest Ethics From Every Public Servant”:

“Our goal is to restore accountability, honesty and openness at all levels of government. To do so, we will create and enforce rules that demand the highest ethics from every public servant, sever unethical ties between lawmakers and lobbyists, and establish clear standards that prevent the trading of official business for gifts.” (Nancy Pelosi’s “A New Direction for America,” Page 21)

RINSE CYCLE: The House Ethics Committee Is Reviewing New Jersey Democrat Robert Andrews’ Use Of Campaign Funds To Finance Attorney Fees, Travel Fares and Wedding Gifts:

The House Ethics Committee revealed late Tuesday that it is reviewing a case involving Rep. Robert Andrews, after the lawmaker’s spending practices with his campaign funds have come under scrutiny.

The House Ethics Committee did not disclose the nature of its probe Tuesday, but said the matter was referred to it by the outside Office of Congressional Ethics on April 2. The committee announced it was extending consideration of the matter until Aug. 31.

The committee did not disclose what matter the ethics panel is looking into.

Andrews, a Democrat from New Jersey, has come under scrutiny for his campaign-money spending practices, including billing the campaign $9,000 to attend the wedding of a donor last year in Scotland. He also bought the couple a $450 gift at Bloomingdale’s. He later reimbursed the campaign with his personal money.

The watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission after that spending was revealed.

Then in March, the Associated Press reported that Andrews, whose daughter lives in California, had billed his campaign $97,000 in the last five years on at least 18 trips to the state. Andrews’ staff said they were fundraising trips.

Andrews occupies a safe Democratic seat. His campaign filings show he has been paying the law firm of Stan Brand, a prominent Washington attorney in ethics cases, since last December. He has paid Brand’s firm more than $100,000, including a $66,830 payment on June 29. …

(Shane Goldmacher, “Influence Alley: Ethics Panel Reviewing Rep. Rob Andrews,” National Journal, 7/17/12)

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