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A collection of 19 good government groups has sent a letter to every member of the House to encourage them to appoint board members to an independent office that investigates ethics complaints against lawmakers and their staff.
As NBC News first reported in March, the Office of Congressional Conduct (OCC) has been effectively neutered without a board. This is the longest the watchdog office has been without a board since it was formed in 2008.
“We write to raise alarm that this has effectively closed the office and ended its work protecting the public interest through independent, nonpartisan ethics oversight of the House of Representatives,” the letter reads.
The board is appointed by House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., with recommendations from Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. In March, a spokesman for Johnson said he is “working through the appointments process.” His office has not responded to a request for an update on the search.
A source familiar with the process told NBC News that Jeffries has submitted his nominations to the speaker’s office.
Among the groups writing to House members encouraging for the new board to be appointed are the Campaign Legal Center, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Democracy 21, Public Citizen, League of Women Voters of the United States, and the Project on Government Oversight.
Formerly known as the Office of Congressional Ethics, the OCC was established 15 years ago. It investigates complaints against members of the House and their employees, which could come from the public, the board or staff members. When warranted, it refers its findings to the House Ethics Committee, which can determine penalties or enforcement based on its review.
The office also has the ability to publish its reports to provide the public insight into the evidence it has collected.
