Republicans in the US House of Representatives have voted to weaken the body that investigates claims of misconduct against members of Congress.
Under the change, the independent Office of Congressional Ethics would come under the control of the House Ethics Committee.
Republican leaders in the House had opposed the change. The newly elected Congress meets later and the full
House will vote on the proposed new rules.
Democrats reacted angrily to the vote.
The vote happened behind closed doors on a bank holiday, with no advance notice the issue was being considered.
It came on the eve of the start of a major power shift in Washington, with Republicans now holding all the levers of power for the first time in nine years.