Warner called the report an example of the “scandal-plagued culture of corruption” in Washington. He said that it was “no surprise given these recent failures to comply with House ethics rules” that Dreier chose to vote against stronger rules being adopted in the House.
The creation of an independent house ethics office was recently approved by a 229-182 vote with opposition from most Republicans.
According to Roll Call, Dreier failed to disclose tens of thousands of dollars in profits he made on stock sales over the past three years. Dreier was reportedly one of more than a dozen members who reported stock sales without reporting any income for the sales. A total of 86 transactions were included, with 35 of them involving less than $200 and exempt from reporting.
Jo Maney, aide to Dreier, addressed the accusations, stating, “All of Mr. Dreier’s financial disclosure forms were approved by the ethics committee at the time of their submission and no requests for amendments were made. While all transactions were disclosed on the forms, the inadvertent omissions were the result of the belief that capital gains generated by actual transactions belonged on Schedule IV of the form, and capital gains generated by other means belonged on Schedule III. An amendment to the form has been filed.”
Roll Call reported the income, stated in range of dollars, was between $85,000 and $263,000. Maney said the actual amount was “nearer the low end.”
