New Ethics Office, Established Last Year, Open for Business

More than a year after the House created the Office of Congressional Ethics, the quasi-independent panel is beginning to show signs that it is tackling investigative duties assigned to it by lawmakers, some of whom had raised questions about what the office was doing.
It was disclosed last week — though not by the ethics office, which is bound by secrecy rules — that the office had begun reviewing possible contacts between associates of Rep. Jesse L. Jackson Jr. and then-Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich over naming Jackson to Barack Obama ’s old Senate seat.
Blagojevich was indicted April 2 on 16 felony counts including allegations that he sought to use his power of appointing Obama’s Senate successor for personal and political gain.
Jackson, who confirmed the probe after it was leaked to the press, maintained he has done nothing wrong and said he is cooperating with the new ethics office....