Congressman Petri Costs For Ethics Probe Defense

Congressman Tom Petri paid almost $140,000 for legal representation for an ethics probe he requested into his own stock portfolio. The federal lawmaker from Fond du Lac requested the investigation after media scrutiny linked companies with business before Congress and stock he owned in those companies. The House Ethic Committee has been reviewing the issue. According to campaign finance reports he paid $137,000 to a Washington law firm for representation in May and June. Under House rules a member of Congress can use campaign funds to defend themselves in matters that involve performance of their official duties.