The House Ethics Committee announced on Tuesday it was looking into an inquiry against Rep. Mark Meadows.  

The inquiry was referred by the Office of Congressional Ethics, and that agency’s investigation of the North Carolina Republican will be made public by Aug. 17.  

A spokesman for Meadows said the congressman also asked the committee himself to look into whether severance payments he made last year to a former chief of staff violated House rules.  

Meadows’ inquiry came two months after a conservative-leaning watchdog group asked the ethics office to investigate lump sum payments made over three months  to a staffer who no longer worked for the lawmaker.  

The spokesman said the chief of staff was let go due to allegations that involved his conduct.  

The spokesman said Meadows is cooperating with the Ethics Committee’s investigation and that he was not aware that severance pay violated House rules.  

The announcement by the Ethics Committee was delayed because the OCE cannot transmit referrals to the committee within 60 days before an election in which the subject of the inquiry is a candidate. North Carolina’s primary was June 6.  

Contact Rahman at remarahman@cqrollcall.com or follow her on Twitter at @remawriter.