House Ethics Panel Confirms Two Investigations

The House Ethics Committee confirmed Friday that it is investigating two lawmakers, Representatives Gregory W. Meeks, Democrat of New York, and Jean Schmidt, Republican of Ohio. The committee said it needed more time for its inquiries, but said that fact does not “itself indicate that any violation has occurred.” Mr. Meeks is under investigation because of a $40,000 loan he received in 2007 and initially did not disclose from a Queens real estate broker who had been repeatedly investigated for fraud and predatory lending. Ms. Schmidt is being investigated on accusations she accepted free legal services from a Turkish-American group. Joe Jansen, an aide to Ms. Schmidt, said she intends to pay back the Turkish-American group, but has not done so at the request of the ethics investigators. The committee said it would decide how to proceed by Aug. 16.