Panel will investigate Traficant, lawmakers say

Traficant was convicted of corruption.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The House Ethics Committee announced the formation of an investigative subcommittee Wednesday to look into the case of Rep. James Traficant, D-Ohio, who was recently convicted of corruption charges.

The subcommittee will investigate whether Traficant "violated the Code of Official Conduct, or any law, rule regulation, or other standard of conduct," the committee said.

Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Washington, will chair the subcommittee and Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-California, will be the ranking Democrat. The other two members will be Rep. Roger Wicker, R-Mississippi, and Rep. John Lewis, D-Georgia.

The ethics committee announced last week it would meet to "consider initiating disciplinary proceedings" against Traficant and had already begun to review trial transcripts.

"Both the investigative subcommittee and the full committee are committed to conducting this matter as quickly as possible," said the written announcement, which also stated that Traficant will have to meet specific deadlines for providing information and responses to the panels.

In addition to an investigation initiated by the committee, two members of the House, Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wisconsin, and Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-California, have proposed resolutions to expel Traficant. Both those motions were referred to the ethics committee.