House reprimands Laura Richardson for ethics violations

ByABC News
August 2, 2012, 10:34 AM

— -- The House of Representatives on Thursday morning officially reprimanded Democratic Rep. Laura Richardson of California for ethics violations, casting a voice vote just before 10 a.m. ET with little fanfare.

The House Ethics Committee on Wednesday reported that their investigation found Richardson violated House rules and other standards of conduct for using House resources for campaign and personal use, requiring House staff to work on her re-election campaign, and obstructing the committee's investigation. Other than an accompanying $10,000 fine, the reprimand amounts to nothing more than a slap on the wrist and a headache for Richardson, who is locked in a difficult re-election race against fellow Democratic Rep. Janice Hahn in California's 44th District.