In an interview late Friday, Fitzpatrick defended the Wednesday-afternoon reception that distracted him from his swearing-in duty, saying it was in no way, shape, or form a campaign fund-raiser, as Democrats have alleged.
House ethics officials "gave us very specific instructions that campaign funds could be used for that purpose," Fitzpatrick said. "The reception was open to anybody. . . . There was no charge. It was not a fund-raiser, and it is quite a stretch to suggest otherwise."
But on a day when Democrats and two nonpartisan watchdog groups called for an ethics probe into the matter, some experts said the reception, held on federal grounds, could be a problem.
Fitzpatrick and Sessions were visiting with more than 500 Fitzpatrick supporters at the Capitol Visitor Center when Boehner administered the oath on the House floor. Both men raised their hands and recited the oath as they watched Boehner on live television.
House parliamentarians decided that wasn't good enough and recommended that the pair be officially sworn in. Boehner did so Thursday, and on Friday, the House nullified a half-dozen votes Fitzpatrick and Sessions cast before the second ceremony.
Many House members used campaign funds to underwrite receptions this week - a method that House rules encourage, as a guard against illegal use of federal money for such events.
The Fitzpatrick campaign's invitation to the Washington event solicited contributions. That could run afoul of House ethics rules, said Stanley Brand, who served as general counsel to the House from 1976 to 1983, when it was under Democratic control. He said such a breach would be minor.
