Haley Ethics Inquiry Reopened - NYTimes.com Ms. Haley, a high-profile Republican and a vocal supporter of Mitt Romney's presidential campaign who has been discussed as a potential vice-presidential candidate, has denied any wrongdoing. The five Republicans and one Democrat on the House Ethics Committee voted unanimously to investigate an accusation that Ms. Haley lobbied for a hospital and an engineering firm while serving in the State House. She represented Lexington County from 2005 to 2010, when she was elected governor. The politically charged complaint was brought by John Rainey, a longtime Republican activist who is being represented at Ethics Committee hearings by the chairman of the state Democratic Party, Richard A. Harpootlian. It alleges that Ms. Haley lobbied lawmakers and state health officials while working for the Lexington Medical Health Center Foundation and for Wilbur Smith Associates. The Ethics Committee opened an investigation this month into Mr. Rainey's complaint, then quickly dismissed the charges. Mr. Rainey appealed. At the hearing Wednesday, the lawmakers said there were too many unanswered questions about Ms. Haley's conduct, according to The State newspaper.