Complaint Filed Against 23 House Republicans For Illegal Agreement To Misuse Taxpayer Funds

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A complaint has been filed against 23 House Republicans who are accused of entering into an illegal agreement to misuse taxpayer funds for political purposes.

The American Democracy Legal Fund (ADLF) has filed a complaint with the House Office of Congressional Ethics that accuses 23 House Republicans of violating federal law (31 U.S.C. § 1301) by using official government resources for political purposes.

The 23 House Republicans are Reps. Stephen Knight, Barbara Comstock, Rodney Davis, Jeff Denham, Dan Benishek, Tim Walberg, Martha McSally, David Valadao, Mike Coffman, Carlos Curbelo, David Young, Bob Dold, Mike Bost, Bruce Poliquin, Frank Guinta, Cresent Hardy, Lee Zeldin, John Katko, Will Hurd, Ryan Costello, Elise Stefanik, Daniel Donovan and Mike Bishop.

According to a statement from the ADLF, “These Members violated these rules by entering into the “Patriot Program Contract 2015,” a contract with the National Republican Congressional Committee agreeing to provide details of the Members’ legislative strategy, including a “detailed finance plan and budget,” in exchange for “special attention” and “campaign cash.” The intent of the contract is for Members to use the official resources available to them to coordinate and detail their legislative strategies and plans with the NRCC.”

What House Republicans are doing is not only against ethics rules, it is a violation of federal law.

Corruption is running rampant in the Republican-controlled House. Republicans are wasting millions of dollars on bogus investigations for partisan political purposes while trying to protect their incumbency by misusing public resources for the purposes of illegal coordination.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the House was rocked by a series of ethics scandals. It seems that the combination of Citizens United and the biggest Republican House majority since before the New Deal have created a climate that is ripe for illegal behavior.

There is something rotten in the People’s House, and it is only a matter of time until Republicans are consumed by their illegal behavior.

Jason Easley

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.

Awards and  Professional Memberships

Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association