The House Office of Congressional Ethics found “substantial reason to believe” Congressmen Pat Fallon (R-Texas) and John Rutherford (R-Fla.) violated House ethics rules, according to a report released on Tuesday.
Fallon and Rutherford failed to report stock transactions to the Housse Clerk’s office within an allotted time period, violating the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act (STOCK Act). Fallon made 122 transactions between January and December 2021, valued at over $9 million. Rutherford, on the other hand, made late disclosures of 157 trades between January 2017 and December 2021 valued at $625,000. Neither congressmen have agreed to investigator interviews.
Kate Belinski, attorney for the politicians in question, called the queries “unnecessary,” citing “taxpayer expense and administrative burden.” As a closing argument, she stated the congressmen have already paid their fines.
Those fines were $600 and $800, for Fallon and Rutherford, respectively. However, Fallon provided sparse information, likely reducing his fine. Rutherford’s penalty was also incorrectly calculated.
Rutherford also happens to be a member of the ethics panel.
