Its board voted unanimously to send its findings in the PMA lobbying firm case to the U. S. Justice Department, The Office of Congressional Ethics said on Thursday.

"Certain evidence collected in the course of its investigation concerning appropriations earmarks and the now defunct lobbying firm" would be forwarded to Justice officials, a statement posted on the ethics office's Web site said. The evidence pertains to findings by the board that "certain persons and companies saw their campaign donations as affecting decisions about earmarks," it further said.

The board made the referral after Reps. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., and Paul Hodes, D-N. H., requested the office release the evidence it had collected in its PMA Group investigation, said the ethics office.

Because of "the circumstances of the case and the risk of prejudice to any pending criminal investigation, among other concerns, the board was unable to grant their request," the ethics office further added.

The Hill had reported in February that the U. S. House ethics panel cleared seven representatives, including Pennsylvania's John Murtha posthumously, of wrongdoing in their dealings with PMA. That panel concluded no rules or ethical guidelines were violated after investigating whether lawmakers or their staffs exchanged earmarks for campaign contributions.

Also cleared were Reps. Norm Dicks, D-Wash.; Bill Young, R-Fla.; Jim Moran, D-Va.; Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio; Todd Tiahrt, R-Kan.; and Pete Visclosky, D-Ind. (With Inputs from Agencies)