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[Page S629]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
U.S. SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ETHICS ANNUAL REPORT
Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent, for myself as
chairman of the Select Committee on Ethics and for Senator Christopher
A. Coons, vice chairman of the committee, that the Annual Report for
the Select Committee on Ethics for calendar year 2019 be printed in the
Record. The Committee issues this report today, January 28, 2020, as
required by the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
Annual Report of the Select Committee on Ethics
116th Congress, Second Session
January 28, 2020
The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 (the
Act) calls for the Select Committee on Ethics of the United
States Senate to issue an annual report no later than January
31st of each year providing information in certain categories
describing its activities for the preceding year. Reported
below is the information describing the Committee's
activities in 2019 in the categories set forth in the Act:
(1) The number of alleged violations of Senate rules
received from any source, including the number raised by a
Senator or staff of the Committee: 251. (In addition, 16
alleged violations from previous years were carried into
2019.)
(2) The number of alleged violations that were dismissed--
(A) For lack of subject matter jurisdiction or in which,
even if the allegations in the complaint are true, no
violation of Senate rules would exist: 135. (This figure
includes 4 matters from the previous year carried into 2019.)
(B) Because they failed to provide sufficient facts as to
any material violation of the Senate rules beyond mere
allegation or assertion: 118. (This figure includes 5 matters
from previous years carried into 2019.)
(3) The number of alleged violations for which the
Committee staff conducted a preliminary inquiry: 16. (This
figure includes 8 matters from previous years carried into
2019.)
(4) The number of alleged violations for which the
Committee staff conducted a preliminary inquiry that resulted
in an adjudicatory review: 0.
(5) The number of alleged violations for which the
Committee staff conducted a preliminary inquiry and the
Committee dismissed the matter for lack of substantial merit
or because it was inadvertent, technical or otherwise of a de
minimis nature: 11.
(6) The number of alleged violations for which the
Committee staff conducted a preliminary inquiry and the
Committee issued private or public letters of admonition: 0.
(7) The number of matters resulting in a disciplinary
sanction: 0.
(8) Any other information deemed by the Committee to be
appropriate to describe its activities in the previous year:
In 2019, the Committee staff conducted 36 Member and
committee office campaign briefings (includes 6 remedial
training sessions); 21 employee code of conduct training
sessions; 11 public financial disclosure clinics, seminars,
and webinars; 19 ethics seminars and customized briefings for
Member DC offices, state offices, and Senate committees; 4
private sector ethics briefings; and 3 international
briefings.
In 2019, the Committee staff handled approximately 10,998
inquiries (via telephone and email) for ethics advice and
guidance.
In 2019, the Committee wrote approximately 784 ethics
advisory letters and responses including, but not limited to,
581 travel and gifts matters (Senate Rule 35) and 133
conflict of interest matters (Senate Rule 37).
In 2019, the Committee received 3,586 public financial
disclosure and periodic disclosure of financial transactions
reports.
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