U.S. House ethics committee leaders on Friday said they were examining U.S. Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Kan., and his ties to the now defunct lobbying firm, The PMA Group.

Tiahrt, who represents the 4th congressional district near Wichita and is running for the U.S. Senate, said he expected to be exonerated by March 2, the committee’s deadline for reviewing an investigation by the independent Office of Congressional Ethics.

The ethics committee is also investigating U.S. Rep. Peter Visclosky, D-Ind.

“We have every confidence that as the committee examines the facts, it will not only confirm the integrity of our rigorous procedures, but will find our vetting standards to be a professional model for other offices to adopt,” Tiahrt said in a statement.

In October, Tiahrt, a member of the House Appropriations defense subcommittee, and other lawmakers were tied to a probe about allegedly steering appropriations to clients of PMA and in turn receiving campaign contributions.

Tiahrt has denied wrongdoing.

FBI agents raided PMA’s offices in November 2008, and the lobbying firm is no longer in business.