Ethics Watch has obtained the final report issued on March 11 by the House Ethics Committee in its investigation of Ethics Watch's complaint against Rep. Steve King.  Curiously, although the Committee found no probable cause that an ethics violation occurred, it also found that Rep. King reimbursed himself for "gas and maintenance expenses for the same travel for which Rep. King received mileage reimbursement from the state" - exactly the violation described in Ethics Watch's complaint.  The Committee also expressed concern that Rep. King loaned himself money from his campaign account.  A personal loan of unexpended campaign funds would violate Colorado campaign finance law; however, due to the 180-day statute of limitations Rep. King will escape legal consequences.

Ethics Watch Director Luis Toro issued the following statement:

"The Ethics Committee's action is hard to understand.  Given that they unanimously expressed concern – the very concern that prompted Ethics Watch to file its complaint - that Rep. King was 'reimbursing himself for gas and maintenance expenses for the same travel for which Representative King received mileage reimbursement from the state,' the proper course of action would have been to refer the charges to the full House for a hearing.  This is like a reprimand disguised as a dismissal for political cover.  Unfortunately, by dismissing the complaint and later quietly sending a message of concern, the Ethics Committee has made it clear that giving House members political cover is more important than acting as a model of ethical conduct."

On the issue of the personal loan, Colorado law provides that unexpended campaign funds may not be "used for personal purposes not reasonably related to supporting the election of the candidate."  [C.R.S.  § 1-45-106.]