Federal Ethics Complaint Filed Against 23 House Republicans Who Used Taxpayer Money For Campaigning
The American Democracy Legal Fund has filed a complaint with the House Office of Congressional Ethics alleging that 23 Republican congressmen violated federal law by using government resources to further their political agenda. The 23 Representatives accused are:
- Stephen Knight (R-CA)
- Barbara Comstock (R-VA)
- Rodney Davis (R-IA)
- Jeff Denham (R-CA)
- Dan Benishek (R-MI)
- Tim Walberg (R-MI)
- Martha McSally (R-RI)
- David Valadao (R-CA)
- Mike Coffman (R-MO)
- Carlos Curbelo (R-FL)
- David Young (R-IA)
- Bob Dold (R-IL)
- Mike Bost (R-IL)
- Bruce Poliquin (R-ME)
- Frank Guinta (R-NH)
- Cresent Hardy (R-NV)
- Lee Zeldin (R-NY)
- John Katko (R-NY)
- Will Hurd (R-TX)
- Ryan Costello (R-PA)
- Elise Stefanik (R-NY)
- Daniel Donovan (R-NY)
- Mike Bishop (R-MI)
The ADLF says that “these Members violated these rules by entering into the ‘Patriot Program Contract 2015,’ with the National Republican Congressional Committee. According to the complaint, the 23 GOP Congressmen were guaranteed “special attention” and “campaign cash” in exchange for providing the Committee with details of their legislative strategy, including a “detailed finance plan and budget.”
Colluding with the NRCC is not only a violation of House ethics rules, but it is a violation of federal law and, as the ADLF notes in the complaint, a “flagrant” abuse “of taxpayer resources for partisan gain.”
This news should come as no surprise to those of us who have been paying attention. With eleventeen billion Benghazi investigations under their belt — investigations one senior Republican recently admitted were aimed at crippling Hillary Clinton rather than seeking justice — as well as the ongoing Planned Parenthood witch hunt, the IRS “scandal,” and other clearly partisan wastes of taxpayer money, it is apparent that Republicans seem to primarily exist to abuse the system as much as possible for their own gains.
The Citizens United ruling has allowed corrupt politicians to have even more ways to enjoy the benefits of corporate overlords who influence their agendas with billions of dollars of “free speech.” Unfortunately, we are at a point in our nation that corruption is running rampant.
What is truly frightening is that this, compared to the other evil things Republicans do, is a pretty minor scandal. Earlier this year, for example, 72 Republicans colluded with the leader of Israel to act against our national interest and contacted Iran’s leaders to promise that the United States will not honor a nuclear peace deal. Now, that is a scandal.
It’s time that we, as a people, stand up and say “no” to corruption in politics. Simply getting rid of Citizens United is not enough. It’s time that we begin talking about harsh criminal penalties for these actions — criminal penalties even politicians need fear.
