Payroll and mail fraud led to the censure of Rep. Charles Diggs (D) of Michigan on July 31, 1979. He came under investigation and was indicted by a grand jury in 1978 on multiple charges, including taking kickbacks from his congressional staff. Diggs maintained his innocence throughout the trial, and voters from his district reelected him by 79 percent.
All the while, then-freshman Rep. Newt Gingrich (R) of Georgia worked to remove Diggs from office. The House eventually and unanimously censured Diggs on July 31, 1979.
Leigh Montgomery contributed to this report
