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NV-03 candidate April Becker is facing two ethics complaints for her failure to properly disclose information to Nevadans on her financial reports.
The complaints allege that Becker failed to properly disclose “dozens of real estate interests,” as well as a $1 million loan and several in-kind contributions Becker made to her own campaign, as is required by law.
As a campaign ethics watchdog put it: “The public has a right to know this information. Congress believes that voters believe that they have a right to this information. It keeps the public in the dark about what their candidates’ financial interests really are, and then they can’t make informed decisions about their candidates.”
Nevadans deserve to know: What is April Becker hiding?
Las Vegas Sun: Las Vegas congressional candidate challenged on disclosure reports
By Jessica Hill
Key points:
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A Las Vegas resident has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Election Commission alleging Republican congressional candidate April Becker failed to properly disclose all of her real estate interests and her spouse’s financial obligations in a campaign finance report.
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The complaint filed July 16 by district resident Laurie Lytel alleges Becker failed to properly disclose “dozens of real estate interests” on her federal personal financial disclosure statement that she previously disclosed on her Nevada disclosure statement when she unsuccessfully ran for the Nevada Senate in 2020.
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On that Nevada financial disclosure statement, Becker reported she or someone in her household held an ownership interest in 70 different properties between January 2019 and March 2020. A review of those properties on Clark County’s Assessor’s database shows that she or her companies still own those properties.
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But on her 2021 and 2022 personal financial disclosure reports filed with the federal government, she disclosed only eight properties — three owned by 3BRB, a limited liability corporation; a parking lot owned by Service Masters Property LLC; and four condominiums owned by Sierra Manors Rental. Becker does have her limited liability corporations listed, including Becker Enterprises, which also owns property as well.
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“Becker’s failure to disclose accurate and complete information regarding her finances is a breach of public trust and a violation of the law,” Lytel wrote in the complaint. “Nevada voters must have the opportunity to review properly filed reports to assess Becker’s fitness for elected office.”
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Delaney Marsco, senior legal counsel for ethics at the Campaign Legal Center, a nonprofit, nonpartisan government watchdog group that focuses on campaign finance laws, said candidates were required to list properties they own to the extent that it is an income-producing asset.
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“The public has a right to know this information,” Marsco said, speaking generally. “Congress believes that voters believe that they have a right to this information. It keeps the public in the dark about what their candidates’ financial interests really are, and then they can’t make informed decisions about their candidates.”
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The complaint Lytel filed also alleges that Becker on her 2021 personal financial disclosure statement failed to disclose a $1 million loan for her husband’s business that was incurred in April 2019.
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“Becker’s failure to disclose this loan on her 2021 (personal financial disclosure) meant that for over 260 days, she kept the public in the dark about her family’s financial liabilities and hid information that the public has a right to know,” Lytel’s complaint says. “Even worse, as of the date of this complaint, Becker has still not amended her 2021 (personal financial disclosure) to accurately and properly disclose the business loan.”
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A separate complaint Lytel filed with the FEC alleges Becker’s campaign failed to report the ultimate vendors for over 20 disbursements made on behalf of her congressional campaign. The complaint lists reimbursements the campaign gave to Becker for unspecified travel or office supplies as examples.
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The DOJ and FEC acknowledged receipt of the complaints, Lytel said. Should the complaints have merit, Becker could be subject to civil fines.
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