The House Ethics Committee says it has appointed a panel to investigate whether Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley used her position to protect her family's financial interests, giving Republicans additional fodder to question her conduct leading up to November's election.
The Associated Press reports the Nevada Republican Party filed a complaint last year saying that her efforts to keep a kidney transplant program open at University Medical Center in Las Vegas constituted a conflict of interest because her husband, Dr. Larry Lehner, is a managing partner of a company that contracts with the hospital to provide kidney care.
The Ethics Committee had earlier said it was reviewing the matter and would announce its course of action by Monday.
Berkley's campaign said - "We are pleased with the committee's decision to conduct a full and fair investigation, which will ensure all the facts are reviewed. We are confident that ultimately it will be clear that Congresswoman Berkley's one and only concern was for the health and well being of Nevada's patients." (AP)
