Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma). Photo from Twitter
Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), a member of the Cherokee Nation, faces an ethics probe for continuing to work on his plumbing business while drawing a taxpayer salary during the 113th Congress. Mullin signed Mullin Plumbing over to his wife after he won election in November 2012. But he has continued to appear in advertising for the company and has hosted a weekly radio show that promotes the company, the Office of Congressional Ethics said in a report that was released on Monday. All in all, the report said Mullin received more than $600,000 in income in 2013, his first full year in Congress. The freshman lawmaker doesn't appear to be disputing the figure -- or his continued involvement in the company -- but he's insisting he has done nothing wrong. "I'd rather fight than quit," Mullin told The Tulsa World. "Nothing I'm doing conflicts with what I do as a congressman." The Office of Congressional Ethics urged the House Ethics Committee to appoint a special panel to review Mullin's activities but the request was declined. However, the committee said it will continue to look into the matter. In another action, the Office of Congressional Ethics released a report into Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Washington), a high-ranking Republican leader. Joe Pakootas, the head of economic development for the Colville Tribes, is hoping to unseat her in this year's election. Get the Story:
House Ethics Panel Releases Details of Charges Against 2 Republican Lawmakers (The New York Times 3/25)
Oklahoma Rep. Markwayne Mullin faces continued ethics review of involvement with his plumbing company (The Oklahoman 3/25)
2nd District Rep. Markwayne Mullin may face House ethics probe over business activities (The Tulsa World 3/25)
Report: Markwayne Mullin earned $600,000 plus in outside income against House rules (The Washington Post 3/24)
Ethics continues review of Rep. Markwayne Mullin (Politico 3/24)
Ethics panel: No full probe of McMorris Rodgers (AP 3/24) Relevant Documents:
Office of Congressional Ethics Referral Regarding Rep. Markwayne Mullin | Office of Congressional Ethics Referral Report | Statement of the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Ethics Regarding Representative Markwayne Mullin | Response from Rep. Markwayne Mullin
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