ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The House Ethics Committee announced Monday that it needs 45 more days to decide whether to launch an in-depth investigation into Congressman Don Young (R-Alaska).
According to Young's staff, the investigation is in connection with Young's legal defense fund.
Early in the year the Office of Congressional Ethics started investigating whether donations to the expense fund had exceeded the allowable limit for 2011.
Up until 2010, the Department of Justice was investigating Young, in connection to Bill Allen, a former oil executive. Allen was the center of the Federal Corruption Case against late Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), but charges were never filed against Young. To help pay for the legal fees, Young created a legal defense fund to pay attorneys.
According to Young's staff, Young sent a letter to the Ethics Committee requesting an advisory opinion when he learned about the review over the summer.
Young was not available for comment today but his spokesperson Luke Miller said in a statement that the allegations are baseless.
