WASHINGTON — The Office of Congressional Ethics said Monday that Reps. Marie Newman, D-Ill., and Doug Lamborn, R-Colo., may have violated federal law and recommended that the House Ethics Committee further investigate their cases.

The congressional watchdog's investigative report on Newman’s case alleges she “may have promised federal employment to a primary opponent for the purpose of procuring political support. If Rep. Newman used her candidacy to promise federal employment, she may have violated federal law, House rules, or standards of conduct.”

The ethics office alleged in its report on Lamborn that he “may have misused official resources for personal and non-official purposes," potentially violating House rules and standards of conduct. Lamborn also "may have solicited or accepted improper gifts from subordinates,” which could also violate federal law, the report continued.

The House Ethics Committee, which can reprimand lawmakers and recommend punishment for misconduct, said it would investigate the allegations in the reports.

When Newman started her 2020 campaign, she made certain promises to her foreign policy adviser for the campaign, Iymen Chehade, about future employment in her congressional office, the report said. Both parties signed a contract, and in 2021, Chehade sued to enforce the agreement after the congresswoman didn’t hire him, alleging “that he decided not to run for the 2020 congressional seat in reliance of her promise to hire him as a foreign...

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