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WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Ethics Committee has concluded that Democratic Rep. Bobby Rush's use of an office in his congressional district without paying rent constitutes a gift exceeding House rules.
The committee says Rush used the Chicago office, or allowed others to use it, since he came to Congress 25 years ago.
The committee says the landlord stopping asking for payment and Rush "never considered whether this informal, unstated arrangement was a gift he could not accept."
The committee says it accepted Rush's assertion he didn't intend to accept an impermissible gift.
But the committee says Rush is required to repay the gift's value — $14,610. He must vacate the office or begin paying rent.
Rush says he cleared out of the office and is "glad to put this matter behind me."
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