ETHICS/LEGAL: “A former aide to GOP Rep. Blake Farenthold contacted the House Ethics Committee last week to detail what she said were regular requests from the congressman and his chief of staff to perform campaign-related duties even though she was never paid by or volunteered with his congressional campaign.
Elizabeth Peace, who was Farenthold’s communications director from May 2015 to March 2017, told committee lawyers last Wednesday that while she worked for the Texas lawmaker, she was pressured to, and at least on one occasion, yelled at by Farenthold’s chief of staff to help with campaign efforts, according to a source familiar with Peace’s conversation with committee lawyers…
House rules generally prohibit the use of official resources for campaign or political purposes. If Peace’s allegations to the ethics committee are found to be true, they could mark campaign finance violations for Farenthold. CNN has not independently confirmed Peace’s allegations…
Reached on the phone Thursday evening, Peace declined to comment, but confirmed that she spoke with House Ethics Committee lawyers last week.
The House Ethics Committee declined to comment for this story, per its usual protocol of not commenting on any ongoing investigations.”
-MJ Lee, “Exclusive: Ex-Farenthold aide told House Ethics Committee she was pressured to perform campaign duties,” CNN Politics, CNN.com, Dec. 22, 2017 10:18am