Friday, December 21, 2012
A U.S. House Ethics Committee investigation into a dismissed public-intoxication charge against U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan has cleared him of any improper conduct.
The committee announced Thursday that its members unanimously agreed that a review by an investigative subcommittee is not needed.
“While the committee is never bound by the disposition of a criminal matter, after completing its own review of the allegations, the committee believes that the handling of this matter by local authorities is sufficient given the facts of the matter,” according to the committee report.
The committee started a review of Ryan’s dismissed case on Dec. 19, 15 days after a judge in Lexington, Va., dismissed the citation against Ryan, of Niles, D-17th.
Ryan was cited by police in that community early Aug. 25 while the six-term congressman was there for a wedding reception of a staff member.
The day the case was dismissed, Ryan told The Vindicator that the charge was “garbage.”
Ryan said he “wasn’t intoxicated,” and “was walking strange because of throwing out my back.”
Lexington police have refused to provide information in Ryan’s arrest report except the location and time of the charge and Ryan’s name.