The ethics committee is investigating Richardson (D-Long Beach) to learn whether she improperly used staff for political purposes.
Richardson is accusing fellow lawmakers of ignoring wrongdoing by other legislators in order to focus on her.
The Ethics Committee is made up of five members from each party, including Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-California), Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Maryland) and is also African-American, and Rep. Pedro Pierluisi (D- Puerto Rico). The five Republicans who make up the remainder of the committee are all white males.
The Associated Press contirbuted to this story.
