08.13.2008
Reps. Issa and Souder Call for Ethics Committee Investigation of Illegal Gifts to Members and Staff from Countrywide VIP Program
Washington, DC – Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN) have sent an official request for an Ethics Committee investigation into disturbing allegations, first reported in Conde Nast Portfolio, that Countrywide gave illegal gifts prohibited by House rules.
“The serious and broad allegation that Members of Congress, Congressional staff, and other officials were given preferential treatment – in the form of a gift from a corporation when mortgage lender Countrywide gave them loans on preferential terms – needs to be investigated,” wrote Issa and Souder to Chairman Stephanie Tubbs Jones and Ranking Member Doc Hastings.