GOP-Led House Ethics Committee Announces Probe Into Republican Congressman

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The House Ethics Committee on Tuesday announced it is investigating Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX), following a referral from last December.

The committee put out a press release saying it “decided to extend the matter regarding Representative Troy E. Nehls” after its preliminary inquiry. The panel did not offer any information as to what the probe regarded or the nature of the referral. The release read:

Pursuant to House Rule XI, clause 3(b)(8)(A), and Committee Rules 17A(b)(1)(A), 17A(c)(1), and 17A(j), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Ethics have jointly decided to extend the matter regarding Representative Troy E. Nehls, which was transmitted to the Committee by the Office of Congressional Ethics on December 11, 2023.

The Committee notes that the mere fact of a referral or an extension, and the mandatory disclosure of such an extension and the name of the subject of the matter, does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred, or reflect any judgment on behalf of the Committee.

The Committee will announce its course of action in this matter on or before Friday, May 10, 2024.

The GOP majority in the House continues to shrink and once Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) leaves his seat in April the Republicans will be left with a 217-213 majority. The four-vote difference between the GOP and Democrats means the GOP cannot lose more than one Republican vote to pass measures along party lines.

Nehls has grabbed headlines in recent months for his hard right, pro-Trump rhetoric. He also stirred controversy earlier in the year for saying Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) “wouldn’t be getting threats” if she wasn’t “so loud all the time.”