House Reprimands Richardson for Conduct Violations

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has officially reprimanded California Democrat Laura Richardson for forcing her congressional staff to do campaign work and violating codes of conduct for government service.

The reprimand comes with a $10,000 fine. It's another blow to the three-term lawmaker's uphill re-election race against fellow Democratic Rep. Janice Hahn.

Richardson has admitted to all seven counts levied against her and agreed to accept the reprimand.

The Ethics Committee report said Richardson compelled employees in her Long Beach office to do campaign work after their workday and sought to influence the testimony of staff members by suggesting they tell the committee their campaign work had been voluntary.