WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. Senate panel dismissed ethics charges against two powerful Democrats Friday but said the lawmakers should have exercised greater care in their personal dealings with Countrywide Financial Corp. Senators Chris Dodd and Kent Conrad committed no ethical violations in obtaining loans from the troubled mortgage lender, the Ethics Committee said after a year-long probe. But in ...

A watchdog group alleged Wednesday that Sen. John Ensign violated the Senate's ethics rules by engaging in an affair with a campaign aide who was married to his administrative assistant, then terminating their employment. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington also said Ensign, R-Nev., violated ethics ...

As the government spends billions bailing out cash-strapped businesses and homeowners, Americans might wonder whether their lawmakers are refinancing their own mortgages or benefiting from relief they backed. Good luck finding out. Congress has made a big deal about getting tough on itself with stronger ethics rules ...

Political spouses increasingly are finding little public love to go with marriage. The husbands and wives of elected officials long have been considered fair game, especially those in high-profile, high-paying jobs. But now, with the rise of bloggers and the march of 24-hour news, they've never been more ...