Graves' Statement On Vote For Unanimous Dismissal

Statement

U.S. Congressman Sam Graves issued the following statement after the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct today unanimously dismissed the anonymous complaint filed earlier this year.

"I want to thank the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct for voting unanimously to dismiss the matter involving me referred to it by the Board of the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE). I appreciate the Committee's work and its prompt dismissal of this matter.

In dismissing this matter, the Committee found that not only was there no violation of any rule, but that even if the allegation were true, there would have been no violation of any rule. The anonymous accusation amounted to nothing more than a political smear.

With respect to the inquiry, I cooperated in good faith and in full candor. I complied with every request made of me throughout the process, which I was lead to believe was simply a pro forma inquiry.

I understand that the nature of politics sometimes involves fending off frivolous, anonymous allegations. But our ethics process, like our system of justice, must be built upon bedrock principles of due process and fundamental fairness. I am glad the Committee and its membership evaluated these allegations for what they were- baseless and completely unfounded attacks on my character.

Over the past few months, countless legal hours have been spent on this issue. However, regardless of this distraction, I have and will continue to fight every day for the values of hard-working Missourians that are impacted by this struggling economy and over spending Congress. I am excited and renewed in my commitment to work hard for the people of the 6th District."

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