(The Center Square) – The U.S. House Ethics Committee has officially closed several investigations into members accused of mishandling campaign finances, accepting impermissible gifts, or neglecting to report some campaign expenditures.
Federal campaign finance laws and congressional regulations forbid lawmakers from using campaign funds for personal use. U.S. Reps. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas; Ronny Jackson, R-Texas; Alex Mooney, R-W.Va.; and Sanford Bishop, D-Ga.; were all under scrutiny for possibly violating those standards.
The committee unanimously found Monday that while some lawmakers did “not fully comply” with standards relating to personal use of campaign funds and campaign finance reporting requirements, “there was no evidence that any Member intentionally misused campaign funds for their personal benefit.”
In March 2024, the Office of Congressional Ethics requested the Ethics Committee review documents indicating Jackson and Hunt reported illegitimate campaign expenditures not attributable to proper political purposes, and that Hunt converted campaign funds to personal use.
“I commend the House Ethics Committee for their swift resolution of this matter and extend my gratitude for their thorough and diligent work,” Hunt said in a statement provided to The Center Square. “From the outset, I have maintained confidence that this issue would be resolved in our favor.”
Jackson could not be reached for comment.
The OCE in December 2021 cited “substantial reason to believe” that Mooney accepted a trip to Aruba and free lodging and event space, used official resources for campaign work and personal errands, authorized impermissible MRA (Members’ Representational Allowance) expenditures, and converted campaign funds to personal use.
“I am grateful to announce that the long standing bipartisan U.S. House Committee on Ethics has fully dismissed all allegations raised against me following their inquiry in which I fully cooperated and answered all their questions,” Mooney posted on X Monday.
“After facing these baseless accusations – driven by politically motivated actors on the extreme left – since 2021, I am pleased that my good name has been fully cleared,” he added.
The investigation of Bishop launched in 2020 when the OCE referred documents indicating Bishop improperly spent a portion of his MRA on annual holiday gatherings held in his district.
A spokesperson for the congressman told The Center Square that Bishop cooperated fully with the Ethics Committee and implemented corrective measures before the investigation began, such as ordering an audit of his campaign spending, repaying tens of thousands of dollars in disputed expenses with personal funds, and hiring a new treasurer for his campaign.
“The Congressman recognizes that he is responsible for his campaign committee’s compliance. If he had provided better oversight on these matters, he likely could have avoided the lapses that caused this investigation,” the spokesperson said. “Still, he is pleased to see that the Committee’s statement acknowledges that there was no evidence that he intentionally misused campaign funds for his personal benefit. Serving the people of Georgia’s Second Congressional District is the greatest honor of his life and Congressman Bishop will continue to focus on addressing their important needs while upholding the integrity of his office.”