The Washington Post reported today that the Department of Justice has asked the House Ethics to halt their investigation of Rep. Alan Mollohan, D-W.Va. as they continue they’re own investigation.

The Justice Department has told the ethics panel to suspend a probe of Rep. Alan B. Mollohan (D-W.Va.), whose personal finances federal investigators began reviewing in early 2006 after complaints from a conservative group that he was not fully revealing his real estate holdings. There has been no public action on that inquiry for several years. But the department’s request in early July to the committee suggests that the case continues to draw the attention of federal investigators, who often ask that the House and Senate ethics panels refrain from taking action against members whom the department is already investigating.

Mollohan said that he was not aware of any ongoing interest by the Justice Department in his case and that he and his attorneys have not heard from federal investigators. “The answer is no,” he said.

Dozens in Congress under ethics inquiry – washingtonpost.com

This information was part of confidential House Ethics Committee report from July 2009. A source turned it over to the Washington Post. More than 30 House members under ethics investigations were included in the July report.

According to information compiled by Associated Press reporter Lawrence Messina, the Mollohan campaign has been paying for the Congressman’s legal expenses during this investigation.

Mollohan’s latest campaign finance report lists $3,000 spent on Kellogg, Huber, Hansen, Todd, Evan and Figel in July for legal services, the first such payment since October 2008. Mollohan’s campaign has paid the Washington, D.C., law firm nearly $300,000 since November 2006, its reports show.

Lincoln Walks At Midnight: Mollohan Still Under Scrutiny?

The DOJ investigations is also looking into the millions of dollars of earmarks Mollohan has given out to various non-profits. Five of the non-profits he helped found have benefited from the majority of Mollohan’s earmarks, including  the Vandalia Heritage Foundation, National Housing Development Corporation, MountainMade, the Institute for Scientific Research, and the West Virginia High Technology Consortium. These groups received a total of $173 million between 1997 and 2006.

Between 1999 and 2006 Vandalia received 92 percent of their funding from Mollohan earmarks. Laura Kuhns, the President and CEO of Vandalia, is a former Mollohan staff member. Vandalia is currently the partner for two projects receiving Mollohan earmarks this year, including Cottrill’s Opera House in Thomas, W.Va., and a new Army National Guard Armory/Civic Center in Parkersburg, W.Va.

Read our past investigations of Mollohan:

Mollohan and Vandalia Team Up Again for Armory

Vandalia Gives Thousands to Mollohan

Mollohan Earmarks Money for New Vandalia Project

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