NRCC chairman says embattled Florida Republican 'doing a very good job'

The chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, Rep. Pete Sessions (Texas), said Wednesday that a criminal probe dogging freshman Rep. David Rivera (R-Fla.) has had no impact on his performance as a member of Congress.

"David Rivera is a brand new member of our delegation from Miami who is doing a very good job in his duties up here," Sessions told The Ballot Box. "He's very active as a member of his freshman class. He's getting his job done and I think that he's seen in a very favorable light."

Rivera is under investigation for allegedly failing to disclose $137,000 in loans, and The Associated Press has reported that Rivera paid himself hundreds of thousands of dollars in unexplained campaign reimbursements over his eight years in the State Legislature.

Democrats have been hammering the freshman Republican over the allegations and using the investigation to lambaste House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and the new Republican majority over their promises of "no tolerance" on ethics questions.

Earlier this week, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said he was "very concerned" by reports of the investigation into Rivera, but that "we'll wait to see the results of them."

Asked if he shares Cantor's concern, Sessions emphasized that the questions surrounding Rivera emanate entirely from his time as a member of the Florida Legislature.

"I would just say that the issues that David is dealing with were entirely those from his service in Florida," he said. "I have not seen many reports other than a newspaper that's pushing a lot of these things."

Rivera is sure to be a top Democratic target next year should he end up back on the ballot. Republicans are reportedly looking at potential candidates to replace him should he be unable to serve out his term or decide not to stand for reelection.

Sessions would not say whether the issues surrounding Rivera would have any bearing on how the NRCC treats his reelection prospects come 2012.

"It would be very appropriate to say that I understand and that David understands that was from his prior service," he said.

—Russell Berman contributed to this report.