An Iowa congressman likely violated a host of ethics rules in his private business dealings, including his ownership in a company that used false claims and House resources to promote itself, according to an independent report released Monday.


The Office of Congressional Ethics launched the review into Republican Rod Blum and his internet marketing business, Tin Moon Corp., following an investigation by The Associated Press earlier this year.

Its nonpartisan board voted in July to adopt an investigative report that concluded Blum "may have violated federal law, state law, House rules, and standards of conduct" and called for further investigation.

The House Committee on Ethics on Monday released the office's lengthy report , which had been kept confidential as required by congressional rules. Committee leaders signaled that they would not take any further action against Blum, who is leaving Congress after losing his bid for a third term to Democrat Abby Finkenauer in the Nov. 6 election.