Watchdog group calls for ethics probe into gift received by Rep. Meeks

A government watchdog group lodged
a formal ethics complaint against Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday over
allegations he failed to disclose $40,000 he received from a businessman in the
state. 

The group Citizens for
Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) filed a complaint with the
Office of Congressional Ethics to request an investigation into the alleged
funds. 

{mosads}At issue are the thousands
that Meeks took from businessman Ed Ahmad in 2007, which the congressman did
not disclose in required financial disclosure reports. Meeks called the money a
loan, and repaid it with interest after the FBI initiated an investigation into
the matter.

“Rep. Meeks got caught with
his hand in the cookie jar and came up with an after-the-fact explanation to
justify his conduct,” said CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan. “Too bad for
him, his story doesn’t hold water. The real questions now are what did Rep.
Meeks do for Mr. Ahmad in return for the money and exactly what is Congress
going to do about this?”

The group asserted that Meeks might have violated federal law by
accepting the loans without disclosure, and possibly House rules as well, for
accepting the loan with an interest rate somewhat below market value.