Jan 2, 2025 - Politics

Ethics office suggests full-scale House Ethics investigation into Rep. Andy Ogles

Nate Rau

An independent federal agency recommends the House Ethics Committee open a full-scale investigation into U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles over discrepancies in his campaign finance disclosures.

Ogles refused to cooperate with the federal review of his finances, according to a new report.

Why it matters: Ogles, a pro-Trump Republican and member of the House Freedom Caucus, won reelection in November.

However, his last year has been dogged by scrutiny over a $320,000 personal loan he reported on disclosures to the Federal Election Commission.

Catch up quick: Ogles later amended disclosures to reduce the reported personal loan amount to $20,000.

He disclosed last year that the FBI seized his cellphone and personal email as part of an apparent federal investigation into his finances.
Ogles said last year he is "confident that any reporting problem was at worst an honest mistake."

The latest: The Office of Congressional Ethics released its report this week, recommending a full Ethics Committee investigation.

The OCE report concluded there is "substantial reason to believe that Rep. Ogles omitted or misrepresented required information" on his financial disclosures.

The report also found there is "substantial reason to believe that Rep. Ogles's campaign committee may have accepted excessive contributions that were reported as personal loans and contributions from the candidate."

Context: OCE was created in 2008 to serve as an independent, nonpartisan agency to review allegations of misconduct against House members.

What's next: The OCE report recommends a full House Ethics investigation, including issuing subpoenas to Ogles, his wife Monica Ogles and others.

Add Axios on Google

Ethics office suggests full-scale House Ethics investigation into Rep. Andy Ogles

More Nashville stories