Washington (CNN) -- Inside an ordinary office building six blocks from the Capitol, investigators sift through evidence of possible violations against ethics and laws committed by the nation's elected representatives.

This is the Office of Congressional Ethics, also known as the OCE.

It is one of the most important watchdogs in Washington. That's because the OCE is the only quasi-independent government bodywhose sole mandate is to formally investigate members of Congress.

But it could soon be silenced by the very people it investigates.

Rest of the story here  Congressional watchdog may cease to exist