Ethics Committee soon will lose jurisdiction on Congressman John J. Duncan, could still face charges

The House Ethics Committee reviewing how Knoxville Rep. John J. Duncan Jr. allegedly misused campaign funds is running out of time to take action on the 15-term congressman.

The committee will lose jurisdiction once Duncan leaves office, meaning it is becoming less likely by the day that he will be charged with a violation. The committee could pass the investigation to the Department of Justice; however. DOJ could also take up the review on its own.

Earlier this year, congressional ethics investigators said they had substantial reason to believe Duncan improperly used thousands of campaign dollars on personal expenses for himself and his family.

The expenses totaled more than $100,000 and included trips for Duncan’s family and friends to the upscale Greenbrier resort in West Virginia, to the 2017 presidential inauguration in Washington, and to New York City for a National Republican Congressional Committee event, according to a report by the nonpartisan Office of Congressional Ethics.

Read more: https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/08/27/john-jimmy-duncan-house-ethics-nears-exit-rep-unlikely-face-charges/1072050002/