House ethics committee dismisses fundraising cases

WASHINGTON (AP) - The House ethics committee has found no connection between fundraising by seven lawmakers and their votes on a major financial overhaul bill in 2009. The committee dismissed cases against all seven after finding no evidence they appeared to give donors special treatment or access, or that contributions were linked to official actions.

The independent Office of Government Ethics, which recommends cases for further review, had asked the ethics committee to investigate three of the members: Republican Reps. John Campbell of California and Tom Price of Georgia, and Democratic Rep. Joseph Crowley of New York. The committee also accepted the office's recommendations to dismiss cases against Republican Reps. Jeb Hensarling of Texas, Christopher Lee of New York and Frank Lucas of Oklahoma, and Democratic Rep. Melvin Watt of North Carolina.