I always thought ethics investigations were for corruption. This sounds more like an opinion thing. What we used to call free speech.
Being free from consequences for saying idiotic things is NOT a right protected under the 1st Amendment.
This idiot should have been slapped down in 2009 when she sent out a DIFFERENT e-mail with an image of the White House lawn growing watermelons.
This idiot has every right to be an idiot, but she is obviously too stupid (and racist) to represent the party.