An internal U.S. Justice Department watchdog has cleared the agency of using the Operation Choke Point probe to unfairly target Internet payday lenders. The probe was launched at the request of Republican lawmakers, who feared operation choke point was being used to stifle controversial but lawful businesses including gun dealers, tobacco sellers and pornography vendors. In a letter to Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer, the Justice Department's Office of Professional Responsibility found no evidence that any attorneys engaged in professional misconduct or improperly targeted Internet payday lenders or other lawful businesses. The report found no evidence of improper enforcement, writing that the probe targeted only a small number of lenders engaged in fraudulent activity.