The House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct has concluded that Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo., did not violate House rules or standards when he invited a witness to testify before the Committee on Small Business earlier this year.
The ethics panel, as well as the Office of Congressional Ethics, investigated the relationship between Brooks Hurst and Grave's wife, both of whom are investors in two renewable fuels cooperatives. Graves approved Hurst to testify before the Small Business committee on March 4.
According to an ethics committee report on the matter released Thursday, "The Standards Committee found that no relevant House rule or other standard of conduct prohibits the creation of an appearance of a conflict of interest when selecting witnesses for a committee hearing. In addition, neither the Standards Committee nor OCE identified any evidence that the March 4, 2009, hearing or Mr. Hurst's testimony resulted in any action that could benefit Representative Graves, Mrs. Graves, or Mr. Hurst."
Case closed. But the Graves investigation is more interesting for the turf fight is caused recently between the House ethics committee and the OCE. You can read about that here. (Subscription required).
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