A congressional ethics watchdog released a report Thursday that found Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY) may have broken ethics rules and federal law with actions he took as a board member of the biotech firm Innate Immunotherapeutics.
The independent Office for Congressional Ethics (OCE), which may investigate allegations against lawmakers and refer its findings to the House Ethics Committee, found there is “substantial reason to believe” Collins shared nonpublic information about the purchase of Innate stock with investors and that he took official actions to help Innate: two National Institutes of Health employees told OCE that Collins asked an NIH employee to help Innate with a clinical trial.
It asked that the House Ethics Committee further review those two actions. The watchdog said it did not find substantial reason to believe that Collins purchased discounted stock, however.
The House Ethics panel said Thursday that it was again extending a review of the allegations against Collins.
The committee first extended its review following a report that Collins purchased Innate stock while the Food and Drug Administration was considering whether to approve a drug made by the company. Collins also introduced an amendment to a House bill related to FDA drug approval that would impact Innate, according to the Daily Beast’s reporting.
Former Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price did not cooperate with the OCE investigation, according to the watchdog’s report. The watchdog recommended the House Ethics Committee subpoena Price, who said in his confirmation hearing that he purchased Innate stock after hearing about it from Collins.
Correction: The initial version of this post incorrectly referred to the Food and Drug Administration as the Federal Drug Administration.
Does anyone really expect anything to happen to this corrupt piece of shit Congressman now? If so, you’re kidding yourself. The GOP will never do the correct thing, even in matters of blatant malfeasance. That’s been their M.O. since gaining the majority, and its not about to change anytime soon…unless they got a better candidate that’s a shoo-in to run for his seat in the upcoming 2018 election that is. Its up to his constituents now to do the right thing. Throw the bum out of office NY.
Happens earlier every cycle. The GOP candidates are lining up their Presidential qualifications already.
Oh, hell, he’s not going to suffer any consequences. Because, after all, IOKIYAR.
IOKIYAR again.
If they actually do anything it will be just a slap on the wrist with a wet strand of spaghetti…
“GOP Ethics” = oxymoron