Reps. Young (R-AK), Andrews (D-NJ) Under Investigation for Illicit Use of Campaign Funds

The House Ethics Committee will investigate Reps. Don Young (R-AK) and Rob Andrews (D-NJ) for illegally using campaign funds.

Reps. Michael Conaway (R-Texas) and Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.), the chairman and ranking member of the Ethics Committee, made the announcement on Tuesday.

According to Politico, Andrews, whom House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) appointed co-chair the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, “is alleged to have employed tens of thousands of dollars in campaign funds for personal use,” on a wedding trip to Scotland, celebrations for his daughter’s high school graduation, and donations to theaters in which his daughter performed in the Philadelphia area. Pelosi will have to decide if she wants to keep Andrews in the post. 

Andrews said the investigation would “confirm that I have always followed all the rules and met all the standards of the House.”

Young is accused of violating contribution limits for a legal defense fund associated with a past criminal probe of his use of campaign funds. 

The Ethics Committee said the Justice Department sent them a referral “regarding Representative Young’s expenses and travel costs for certain trips which were the subject of the Committee’s ongoing review. The Committee has received the referral without prejudice or presumption of as the merit of the allegations.”