OCE Referral Regarding Rep. Mike Kelly
OCE Referral Regarding Rep. Mike Kelly
OCE Referral Regarding Rep. Mike Kelly Exhibits 1 of 4
OCE Referral Regarding Rep. Mike Kelly Exhibits 2 of 4
OCE Referral Regarding Rep. Mike Kelly Exhibits 3 of 4
OCE Referral Regarding Rep. Mike Kelly Exhibits 4 of 4
On July 23, 2021, the Office of Congressional Ethics transmitted a referral to the Committee on Ethics of the United States House of Representatives regarding Rep. Mike Kelly.
Nature of the Review
Rep. Mike Kelly's wife purchased stock in Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. on April 29, 2020. If this stock purchase was based upon confidential or material nonpublic information that Rep. Kelly learned during his official job duties, then Rep. Kelly may have violated House rules, standards of conduct, and federal law.
OCE Recommendation
The Board recommended that the Committee further review the above allegation concerning Rep. Kelly because there is substantial reason to believe that this April 29, 2020 stock purchase was based upon confidential information that Rep. Kelly learned during his official job duties.
Committee Action
On October 21, 2021, the Committee on Ethics released a statement indicating it would continue to gather information necessary to complete its review. The Committee published the OCE report and findings and announced the allegations would be further reviewed pursuant to Committee Rule 18(a).
On July 25, 2025, the Committee released a report unanimously concluding that no evidence was found to suggest that Rep. Kelly knowingly or intentionally caused his spouse to trade based on insider information, nor that he violated conflict of interest standards. However, the Committee determined that Rep. Kelly’s failure to acknowledge the seriousness of the alleged misconduct and the Committee’s investigation violated clause 1 of the Code of Official Conduct. Moreover, the Committee emphasized that members have a duty to protect the institution's integrity and therefore avoid even the appearance of impropriety. Accordingly, the Committee recommended that Rep. Kelly and his wife divest of any stock in Cleveland Cliffs before taking any further official action relating to the company.