New documents disclosed in a complaint from the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) appear to show Caliphornia Democrat Rep. Laura Richardson and her staff clearly violating congressional ethics rules and potentially federal law.
The documents show Richardson using official taxpayer resources for political events, including fundraisers. "Rep. Richardson didn't just violate House rules, she likely committed crimes," said Melanie Sloan, CREW's executive director.
In one instance, Richardson's chief of staff, Shirley Cooks, told all of Richardson's aides in an email from her official House account, "All staff are required to attend" a fundraiser held Sept. 29, 2010, adding, "Bring spouses and tell interns they have to be there as well. Thanks." |