{"id":2530157,"date":"2026-01-05T17:19:02","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T22:19:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-ethics-committee-extends-inquiry-into-mike-collins\/"},"modified":"2026-01-05T17:21:27","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T22:21:27","slug":"house-ethics-committee-extends-inquiry-into-mike-collins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-ethics-committee-extends-inquiry-into-mike-collins\/","title":{"rendered":"House Ethics Committee extends inquiry into Mike Collins"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhouse-ethics-committee-extends-inquiry-into-mike-collins%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2530157&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The House Ethics Committee has extended its review of referrals involving Rep. Mike Collins (R\u2011GA) and his chief of staff, Brandon phillips, to gather more details; the extension is not a finding of wrongdoing. Two Office of Congressional conduct reports say there is &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-ethics-office-substantial-reason-to-believe-illinois-dem-offered-illegal-bribe\/\" title=\"House Ethics ...: \u2018Substantial Reason\u2019 To Believe Illinois Dem Offered Illegal Bribe\">substantial reason<\/a> to believe&#8221; Collins&#8217;s office paid an intern, Caroline Craze, who allegedly did little or no work and had a romantic relationship with Phillips, and that House resources may have been used for nonofficial purposes to retain the employee. Investigators reported that collins, Phillips and some senior staffers declined to cooperate, limiting the OCC&#8217;s ability to resolve parts of the case and prompting recommendations for subpoenas.Some <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >witnesses reportedly feared retaliation<\/a> for cooperating. Collins and Phillips strongly deny the allegations, calling them politically motivated and based on complaints from &#8220;disgruntled&#8221; former staff; their attorney urged the committee to close the matter.The committee says it will refrain from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republican-canvassers-rescind-their-votes-to-certify-wayne-county-michigan-results\/\" title=\"Republican Canvassers Rescind Their Votes to Certify Wayne County, Michigan, Results\">public comment<\/a> while the review continues.The inquiry comes as Collins campaigns in a competitive Republican primary for a Georgia U.S. Senate seat.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Ethics Committee extends inquiry into Mike Collins and his chief of staff<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2463895\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/ethics.house.gov\/press-releases\/statement-of-the-chairman-and-ranking-member-of-the-committee-on-ethics-regarding-representative-mike-collins-2\/\">House Ethics Committee <\/a>is pressing ahead with its investigation into allegations involving Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mike-collins\/\">Mike Collins<\/a> (R-GA) and his chief of staff, Brandon Phillips.<\/p>\n<p>Collins, a Georgia Republican who is running in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3483700\/mike-collins-launches-bid-for-georgia-senate\/\">competitive three-way GOP primary<\/a> for the state&rsquo;s U.S. Senate seat, is <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/ethics.house.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Press-Release-Brandon-Phillips-1.5.26.pdf\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dr-fauci-faces-renewed-criticism-over-past-remarks-about-new-york-serving-as-a-model-for-fighting-pandemic\/\" title=\"Dr. Fauci faces renewed criticism over past remarks about New York serving as a model for fighting pandemic\">facing renewed scrutiny<\/a> <\/a>after the bipartisan panel said it is extending its review of referrals sent by the Office of Congressional Conduct last fall. Committee leaders&nbsp;said that the extension is meant to allow more time to gather information and does not signal any finding of wrongdoing.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4407082\/appropriators-three-bill-package-bid-stave-off-shutdown\/\">Appropriators unveil three-bill package in bid to stave off shutdown 2.0<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3924613\/congress-members-with-public-service-backgrounds-make-better-legislators\/\">Why members of Congress with public service backgrounds often make better legislators<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4406301\/congress-to-be-briefed-on-venezuela-strikes\/\">Congress to be briefed by Trump administration on Venezuela strikes<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;The mere fact of conducting further review of a referral, and any mandatory disclosure of such further review, does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred,&rdquo; the committee said, adding that it will refrain from further public comment while the review remains ongoing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The announcement came alongside the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/ethics.house.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/OCC-Report-and-Findings-Rep.-Mike-Collins-1.5.26.pdf\">public release <\/a>of two OCC reports that spell out the underlying allegations. In Collins&rsquo;s case, the watchdog said there was &ldquo;substantial reason to believe&rdquo; his office paid a district intern who did little or no work and who had a romantic relationship with Phillips.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/ethics.house.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/OCC-Report-and-Findings-Brandon-Phillips-1.5.26.pdf\">According to the report<\/a>, multiple current and former staffers told investigators the intern, Caroline Craze, &ldquo;never worked&rdquo; in either Collins&rsquo;s district office or his Washington office. The OCC also pointed to evidence suggesting Craze may have held another job while drawing a congressional paycheck.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The watchdog further said there was substantial reason to believe Collins may have used <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/news\/house\/\">House<\/a> resources for unofficial purposes and granted special favors by keeping an employee tied to his chief of staff. Investigators noted that Collins declined to cooperate with the review, which limited what they could resolve without subpoena power.<\/p>\n<p>As a result, the Office of Congressional Conduct said it was unable to obtain key information and recommended that the Ethics Committee issue subpoenas, including one directed at Collins. Investigators said Collins, Phillips, and several senior staffers declined to provide the requested information or testify, leaving parts of the case unresolved without subpoena power.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">A&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/ethics.house.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/OCC-Report-and-Findings-Brandon-Phillips-1.5.26.pdf\">separate OCC report<\/a>&nbsp;on Phillips reached similar conclusions, finding substantial reason to believe he used House resources for nonofficial purposes and helped retain an employee with<\/span> whom he had a personal relationship. The report also says some witnesses feared retaliation if they cooperated.<\/p>\n<p>Collins and Phillips have strongly disputed the allegations. In a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.scribd.com\/document\/976509340\/Attorney-response-to-House-Ethics-Committee-review-of-Rep-Mike-Collins-and-chief-of-staff\">letter submitted to the Ethics Committee<\/a>, their attorney said that the referrals stemmed from complaints by &ldquo;two disgruntled, former members&rdquo; of Collins&rsquo;s staff and argued that the OCC&rsquo;s own reports undercut the case for further review.<\/p>\n<p>The lawyer noted that, on two of the three issues examined by the OCC, the watchdog said it was unable to reach a determination that there was substantial reason to believe the allegations were true. Based on that record, counsel urged the committee to dismiss the matter and take no further action.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;These allegations will not serve the interests of Representative Collins&rsquo;s constituents or this Committee,&rdquo; the attorney wrote, requesting that the panel close the case.<\/p>\n<p>Collins&rsquo;s office echoed that message more bluntly, framing the ethics review as politically motivated.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This bogus complaint is a sad attempt to derail one of Georgia&rsquo;s most effective conservative legislators in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/congress\/\">Congress<\/a>,&rdquo; a spokesperson said in a statement provided to the <em>Washington Examiner.<\/em> &ldquo;Rep. Collins looks forward to providing the House Ethics Committee all factual information and putting these meritless allegations to rest.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>With the review now extended, the Ethics Committee can continue seeking documents, request additional information, or decide whether to escalate the matter into a deeper investigative phase. The panel could also choose to dismiss the case outright. For now, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nearly-all-republican-senators-who-voted-to-convict-president-trump-now-face-censures\/\" title=\"Nearly all Republican senators who voted to convict President Trump now face censures\">committee leaders<\/a> say they will remain silent until the review is complete.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The ethics review comes as the Georgia GOP Senate primary <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3895433\/georgia-messy-gop-senate-primary-needs-trump-endorsement\/\">has hardened into the intraparty fight<\/a> Republicans hoped to avoid after Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/brian-kemp\/\">Brian Kemp<\/a> (R-GA), who is term-limited, declined to run.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4406935\/mike-collins-jon-ossoff-new-ad-georgia-gop-primary\/\"><strong>MIKE COLLINS ZEROES IN ON OSSOFF EARLY IN AD ROLLOUT DESPITE GOP PRIMARY FIGHT<\/strong><\/a><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Collins is facing off against Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/buddy-carter\/\">Buddy Carter<\/a> (R-GA) and former Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley in a three-way contest that many Republicans expect to remain unsettled until President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> decides whether to intervene ahead of the May 19 primary.<\/p>\n<p>All three are vying for the chance to challenge Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jon-ossoff\/\">Jon Ossoff<\/a> (D-GA) in 2026, with Trump&rsquo;s endorsement looming as the biggest wild card in the race.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ethics extends probe into Collins, chief of staff<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2657,"featured_media":2530158,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP25354710319153.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[41053,47214,45101,49076],"class_list":["post-2530157","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-congressional-inquiry","tag-ethics-investigation","tag-house-ethics-committee","tag-mike-collins"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP25354710319153.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2530157","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2657"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2530157"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2530157\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2530161,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2530157\/revisions\/2530161"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2530158"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2530157"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2530157"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2530157"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}