WASHINGTON — The Office of Congressional Ethics has closed its corruption inquiry into Pennsylvania’s Rep. John Murtha and recommended that there be no sanctions against the Johnstown Democrat.

Mr. Murtha received a letter this month saying that the Ethics Office would not recommend further investigation by the House Ethics Committee, according to a congressional source with knowledge of the inquiry. It had focused on the relationship between Mr. Murtha and the PMA Group lobbying firm.

PMA was founded by Pittsburgh native Paul Magliocchetti, a former Appropriations Committee staffer and friend of Mr. Murtha. The firm closed this spring after federal agents searched its offices and Mr. Magliocchetti’s home, seeking evidence that he used friends and family to steer donations to members of Congress in violation of campaign finance laws.

Sources have told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that federal investigators have asked Mr. Magliocchetti about Mr. Murtha.

Congressional probes have focused on potential ties between congressional earmarks and campaign donations to members of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, which Mr. Murtha chairs.

Read the full Post-Gazette article here

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