Bachmann campaign under ethics probe

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) is under investigation by the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE).
 
A lawyer representing the former GOP presidential candidate said on Monday that Bachmann had not violated any laws or House rules, and that they were cooperating with a preliminary probe being conducted by the outside ethics panel.
 
{mosads}“There are no allegations that the Congresswoman engaged in any wrongdoing,” said William McGinley, a lawyer with the Washington-based Patton Boggs firm.

“We are constructively engaged with the OCE and are confident that at the end of their Review the OCE Board will conclude that Congresswoman Bachmann did not do anything inappropriate.”
 
The news was first reported by The Daily Beast on Monday, which spoke with former Bachmann staffers. According to the website, OCE investigators are looking into whether the lawmaker’s campaign violated finance laws during her run for the White House in 2012.
 
The investigation appears to be focused on the actions of Guy Short, Bachmann’s former national political director, and her former Iowa campaign chairman, state Sen. Kent Sorenson (R-Iowa), according to the report.
 
“Questions directly about Bachmann, they said, have been primarily focused on what she knew about those men’s actions and when she knew it,” wrote The Daily Beast.
 
McGinley represented Rep. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.) while he was under investigation by the OCE last year for campaign finance violations as well. He was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing.