Whitfield Under Review By House Ethics Committee
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Congressman Ed Whitfield (R-KY) is under review by the House Ethics Committee for unspecified allegations. The statement issued by Chairman Michael Conaway (R-TX) and Ranking Member Linda Sanchez (D-CA) said, "the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Ethics have jointly decided to extend the matter regarding Representative Ed Whitfield, which was transmitted to the Committee by the Office of Congressional Ethics on June 10, 2014."
The Committee also stated that the mere fact of a referral or extension does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred. The Committee will announce its course of action on the matter on or before November 10, 2014.
Congressman Whitfield's wife, Connie Harriman-Whitfield is a lobbyist for the Humane Society of the United States and Congressman Whitfield has introduced and supported many animal activist measures championed by HSUS. Also, questions were raised recently regarding the Whitfield's joint ownership of property in West Virginia with lobbyist Juanita Duggan. The inquiry was done by the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting.
In response to the ethics review, Whitfield released the following statement, "I am disappointed that people with a financial interest in pending legislation have filed a complaint against me for my work on behalf of animals."