House Ethics panel recommends further review of campaign finance allegations against 2 lawmakers

An independent congressional watchdog wants to dig deeper into separate campaign finance allegations against two lawmakers, Reps. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.).

The Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE), an independent, nonpartisan committee that reviews allegations of misconduct against House members and staff, alleged Thursday that Ogles may have misrepresented a loan to his 2022 campaign, transferring far less than the amount originally disclosed from an undetermined source.

In a separate report released Thursday, the OCE said Cherfilus-McCormick may have made "impermissible payments" to a state PAC that then paid various vendors and her unofficial campaign manager, who was allegedly “heavily involved” in the production of franked communications from her congressional office but was not compensated with official funds.

The OCE also alleged her campaign may have accepted and failed to report an excessive in-kind contribution as well as transactions with her businesses.

“As stated in the Committee’s public statement, the investigative subcommittee has not concluded its review of the allegations, and the release of OCE’s Findings is simply a result of the House investigative process. The fact that the allegations were referred for further review does not indicate any violation has occurred," Cherfilus-McCormick said in a statement said in a statement.

Cherfilus-McCormick also said she "plan[s] on continuing to collaborate with the Committee and its Investigative Subcommittee," although the committee said several times throughout its report that she "did not cooperate with the OCE's review."

The Hill has contacted a spokesperson for Ogles for comment.

Ogles allegations: loan or excessive contribution?

After Ogles disclosed a $320,000 loan to his campaign in April 2022, local media pointed out he did not disclose sufficient income, assets or liabilities in his requisite personal financial disclosure, raising questions about the source of the funds.

The OCE commenced its review in February following a complaint from Campaign Legal Center, but said Ogles was uncooperative. On the final day of the OCE’s review, however, the committee said Ogles’s counsel confirmed he transferred only $20,000 of that total to his campaign.

“While Representative Ogles had identified approximately $320,000 in personal funds available for loan to the campaign, only $20,000 was actually transferred,” Ogles’s counsel told the OCE, according to the committee’s report.

Ogles later told the press in a statement that while “we only needed to transfer $20,000, unfortunately, the full amount of my pledge was mistakenly included on my campaign's FEC reports."

But the OCE said — based on “limited evidence” — that Ogles may have intentionally misrepresented the total amount of money he loaned his campaign during the primary, and that it was unable to determine if the loan came from his personal funds.

“In the absence of accurate financial disclosure reports and without cooperation from Rep. Ogles, the OCE was unable to determine whether Rep. Ogles’s alleged $20,000 loan to his campaign was made from his personal funds or came from another source representing an excessive contribution,” the OCE said.

The complicated web of Cherfilus-McCormick’s campaign cash

The OCE on Thursday laid out several allegations regarding Cherfilus-McCormick and the flow of money between various entities supporting her federal campaign.

The committee said it obtained evidence that a limited liability company she owned made several payments to the state political committee Leadership in Action PAC, which allegedly made payments to her informal campaign manager and various vendors on behalf of her campaign.

The OCE identified the informal campaign manager as an individual named Mark Goodrich and said he went on to perform work in her congressional office, including work on franked communications sent to her constituents, but he was not compensated through official funds. Goodrich could not be identified for comment.

The committee said it was unable to determine whether or how Goodrich was compensated for his work for Cherfilus-McCormick’s congressional office because neither cooperated with the review.

The OCE also alleged a Florida company, Truth & Justice Inc., made more than $150,000 in payments to a printing and mailing vendor on behalf of Cherfilus-McCormick’s campaign, significantly exceeding the individual contribution limit of $2,900 per election in 2022.

The committee also said it identified three instances in which Cherfilus-McCormick may have failed to report apparent transfers between her campaigns and business accounts, but said that it was “unable to ascertain whether other unreported transactions may have taken place” since neither the congresswoman nor her campaign cooperated with the review.

Story updated at 6:50 p.m. EDT

Topics

House ethics watchdog unfurls campaign finance allegations against two members

Politico - 2d
What Happened to Carter’s White House Solar Panels? They Lived On.

The panels, removed under Ronald Reagan, found new homes from Maine to China. And their legacy still reverberates.
The New York Times - 2d
Bipartisan lawmakers renew push for legislation supporting Georgia against Russian interference

Republican and Democratic lawmakers are renewing efforts to pass legislation supporting Georgia, touting it as one of the best and first examples of bipartisan unity of the new Congress. Reps. Joe ...
The Hill - 1d
New House Ethics campaign rules are a belated lump of coal

The House Committee on Ethics has issued new requirements for House members' campaign and leadership PAC funds, requiring them to maintain records demonstrating the specific campaign purpose of ...
The Hill - 2d
Blake Lively sues 'It Ends With Us' director Justin Baldoni alleging harassment and smear campaign

Actor Blake Lively sued “It Ends With Us” director Justin Baldoni and several others tied to the romantic drama on Tuesday, alleging harassment and a coordinated campaign to attack her reputation ...
NBC News - 3d
Blake Lively sues 'It Ends With Us' director Justin Baldoni alleging harassment and smear campaign

Actor Blake Lively has sued the director of the film “It Ends With Us” alleging harassment on the set and a coordinated campaign to smear her reputation
ABC News - 3d
FBI disrupts alleged plot against pro-Israel U.S. group

Authorities said the Florida man arrested in the alleged plot had three firearms, including an AR-style rifle, with him when law enforcement stopped the vehicle he was in.
CBS News - 3d
House Ethics Committee closes investigations into 4 members

Politico - 5d