Report: New congressman not cooperating in ethics probe

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The office investigating U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock over allegations the Illinois Republican violated campaign fundraising laws says new GOP Congressman Rodney Davis isn’t cooperating with the probe.

A report released Wednesday by the bipartisan Office of Congressional Ethics indicates Davis refused to cooperate, according to The (Champaign) News-Gazette. Davis is a Republican from Taylorville who took office this year.

Schock is accused of soliciting a $25,000 contribution last March from House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s political action committee for PAC backing of Rep. Adam Kinzinger. Federal law prohibits contributions of more than $5,000. Schock has denied any wrongdoing.

The report says Davis was the contact between Schock and several PACs. Davis was then part of U.S. Rep. John Shimkus’ staff and not yet a candidate for Congress.

In a statement Friday, Davis emphasized that the report doesn’t accuse him of any wrongdoing.

“This report is not focused on me and does not state, or even imply, that I did anything wrong,” Davis said in a statement e-mailed to The Associated Press.

The Office of Congressional Ethics recommended that the House Committee on Ethics review the allegations, something it says it’s doing.

The report from the Office of Congressional Ethics, as Davis notes, does not accuse him of wrongdoing. But it recommends that Davis be subpoenaed, something the OCE can’t do but the House committee can.

“The OCE infers that the information Mr. Davis refused to provide, taken together with the factual findings in this referral, supports the conclusion that there is substantial reason to believe that the alleged violation occurred,” the report states.