Today Roll Call Columnist Simon Davidson discusses the risks that a private party faces in turning over information to the Office of Congressional Ethics. He mentions my post last week questioning whether OCE has the authority to refer evidence to the Justice Department as it did with regard to the PMA investigation.
Roll Call has also editorialized about this issue, noting that OCE’s decision to turn over evidence to the Justice Department could chill cooperation by future witnesses needed in its investigations. The editorial warns that this action could play into the hands of “OCE’s enemies,” who are looking for reasons to eliminate the office.