HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) - The Maryland Democratic Party is seeking a congressional ethics investigation of Rep. Roscoe Bartlett's employment of state Republican Party chairman Alex Mooney while Mooney was also a candidate for the Maryland Republican's seat.

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Democratic Party Executive Director David Sloan said Tuesday that the arrangement violated House ethics rules.

Sloan also says Bartlett may have improperly used congressional office resources for campaign activities. Mooney dropped his 2014 candidacy for the 6th Congressional District seat last week after The Washington Post contacted Bartlett's office about a possible conflict of interest. Mooney has been working for Bartlett's congressional office since June as part-time "community outreach worker."

Bartlett's re-election campaign says his Democratic rival, John Delaney, is behind the request for an investigation. Mooney didn't immediately respond to inquiries from The Associated Press.