October 29, 2009 - OCE Referral Regarding Representative Graves

OCE Referral Regarding Representative Graves (PDF 6.5MB)

On August 6, 2009, the OCE transmitted a referral to the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the United States House of Representatives regarding Representative Sam Graves.

Nature of the Review

Representative Sam Graves, Ranking Member of the Committee on Small Business, invited Witness A to testify at a Comittee hearing on "The State of the Renewable Fuels Industry in the Current Economy." The hearing was held on March 4, 2009. Witness A and Representative Graves' wife, Lesley Graves, both hold financial interests in the same renewable fuels plant in Missouri. Representative Graves conduct may have violated House Rule 23 and House precedent regarding confict of interest.

OCE Recommendation

The Board of the OCE recommended that the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct further review the above described allegations concerning Representative Graves.

Committee Conclusion

On October 29, 2009, the Committee issued a report concluding that Representative Graves did not violate any rule or standard of conduct and noting it considers the matter closed.