Ethics panel widens Berkley investigation

WASHINGTON – The House ethics committee has named an investigative subcommittee to further its inquiry into allegations that Rep. Shelley Berkley, the Nevada Democrat who is running for Senate, intervened to keep open a Las Vegas kidney transplant center in which her husband had a financial interest.

The ethics committee has been reviewing the complaint filed by the Nevada Republican Party against the congresswoman since February.

Berkley is in a hard-fought race against Republican Sen. Dean Heller. Democrats nationally have rallied behind the Las Vegas-area representative as one of their best chances to pick up a Republican-held seat and help prevent the Republicans from taking control of the Senate.

The Berkley campaign said Monday it welcomed the complete airing of the ethics issue.

“We are pleased with the committee’s decision to conduct a full and fair investigation, which will ensure all the facts are reviewed,” said Jessica Mackler, Berkley’s campaign manager. “We are confident that ultimately it will be clear that Congresswoman Berkley’s one and only concern was for the health and well-being of Nevada’s patients.”

Berkley’s work on behalf of the kidney transplant center came under question last fall, after the New York Times reported that her husband’s medical practice benefited from her efforts to block federal regulators from shutting down a kidney transplant program at University Medical Center in Nevada.