Congressman In Ethics Investigation Proclaims Innocence

The House ethics committee is investigating Jim Moran, a Democrat from Northern Virginia, and six of his colleagues. The committee is looking into their relationship with a lobbying firm called the PMA group, which is itself the subject of a criminal probe.

Normally these kinds of investigations are strictly confidential. But in this case, it's alleged a Capitol Hill staffer accidentally leaked a document through their computer's file sharing network. The document was later obtained by the Washington Post.

Moran says members of the ethics committee approached him several months ago. "When they asked me if they could have an inquiry," Moran recalls, "I said, 'We welcome it. Here is everyone that's ever been involved in my fundraising. I encourage you to interview them.'"

Moran has been representing Northern Virginia's inner suburbs in the House for nearly two decades.

David Schultz reports...