Watchdog group calls for ethics probe into gift received by Rep. Meeks

A government watchdog group lodged a formal ethics complaint against Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday over allegations he failed to disclose $40,000 he received from a businessman in the state. 

The group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) filed a complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics to request an investigation into the alleged funds. 

At issue are the thousands that Meeks took from businessman Ed Ahmad in 2007, which the congressman did not disclose in required financial disclosure reports. Meeks called the money a loan, and repaid it with interest after the FBI initiated an investigation into the matter.

“Rep. Meeks got caught with his hand in the cookie jar and came up with an after-the-fact explanation to justify his conduct,” said CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan. “Too bad for him, his story doesn’t hold water. The real questions now are what did Rep. Meeks do for Mr. Ahmad in return for the money and exactly what is Congress going to do about this?”

The group asserted that Meeks might have violated federal law by accepting the loans without disclosure, and possibly House rules as well, for accepting the loan with an interest rate somewhat below market value.

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