🚨NEW🚨: Watchdog Group Seeks investigation Into Inland Empire Congressman Ken Calvert After Damning Report on Self-Serving Earmark Use

LA Times: “The complaint follows a Times story on Calvert’s use of the legislative process known as earmarking to secure…more than $16 million for transportation projects within a few miles of his own rental properties.”

Press-Enterprise: “Corona Republican accused of failing to disclose investments near areas where he steered federal funds”

Yesterday, the LA Times and Press-Enterprise released damning reports on formal calls for an ethics investigation into “corrupt” Rep. Ken Calvert’s assets, alleging the vulnerable Republican “failed to disclose information about various rental properties that he owns in Riverside County” and the ways in which he’s used federally earmarked funds to benefit his own real estate investments.

End Citizens United filed the complaint, which said in part that “Calvert failed to report the purchase of two other properties, in Corona and Palm Springs,” with the Office of Congressional Ethics for Calvert’s behavior. Previous reporting from the LA Times appeared to show that Calvert may have manipulated the earmark process to secure “more than $16 million for transportation projects within a few miles of his own rental properties.”

DCCC Spokesperson Dan Gottlieb:
“Riverside County residents have suffered from rising housing costs for years, and they have self-serving politicians like Ken Calvert to blame. Corrupt Calvert has spent decades allegedly manipulating taxpayer dollars for his own gain, and voters have had enough of his self-serving actions and out-of-touch extremism. This call for investigation is absolutely necessary, and the Inland Empire will hold Calvert accountable this November.”

LA Times: Watchdog group seeks investigation into Inland Empire Congressman Ken Calvert
Laura Nelson | August 7, 2024

• A liberal watchdog group is seeking an investigation into Inland Empire Rep. Ken Calvert, the longest-serving Republican in California’s Congressional delegation.

• The campaign finance reform group End Citizens United filed a complaint Tuesday with the Office of Congressional Ethics alleging that Calvert failed to disclose information about various rental properties that he owns in Riverside County.

• The complaint follows a Times story on Calvert’s use of the legislative process known as earmarking to secure more than $100 million in taxpayer funds for his district, including more than $16 million for transportation projects within a few miles of his own rental properties.

• Questions over Calvert’s real estate investments have resurfaced as the longtime congressman faces off against Democrat Will Rollins, a former federal prosecutor. California’s 47th Congressional district, which includes Corona and Palm Springs, is considered one of the country’s most competitive races.

• The Times found that Calvert failed to disclose the purchase of an automotive repair center in Corona that he acquired in 2016, an omission that his office described as a clerical error. The property sits about a mile from a bridge that received $2 million in earmarked funds through Calvert’s office.

• The complaint filed Tuesday also alleged that Calvert failed to report the purchase of two other properties, in Corona and Palm Springs.

• The Office of Congressional Ethics is an independent group with no subpoena power that reviews allegations against members of the House of Representatives and, in some cases, refers cases to the House Ethics Committee for further investigation.

The Press-Enterprise: Ethics complaint filed against Rep. Ken Calvert over real estate holdings
Jeff Horseman | August 7, 2024

• A pro-Democrat political action committee has filed an ethics complaint against Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona, alleging the Inland Empire’s longest serving congressmember failed to disclose real estate investments near areas that benefit from federal funds he steered.

• End Citizens United filed the complaint Tuesday, Aug. 6, with the nonpartisan Office of Congressional Ethics. In it, the group alleged Calvert, who represents part of Riverside County and is facing a tough reelection fight in a swing district, broke federal law by omitting information about his real estate holdings on financial disclosure reports.

• “Calvert is back to his old ways, shamelessly abusing his position of power for personal financial gain,” End Citizens United President Tiffany Muller said in a news release. “Through his gross misuse of earmarked funds, he’s blurring the line between his duties as an elected official and his personal business dealings.”

• Federal records show that Calvert, the most senior Republican in California’s House delegation, directed federal earmarks to areas of his 41st Congressional District not far from property he owns or co-owns. Critics say that potentially boosted the properties’ value.

• A review of Calvert’s 2023 financial disclosure report shows that he earns between $15,000 and $50,000 annually in rent from an automotive repair center in the 1200 block of East Sixth Street, just off the 15. He also has stakes in commercial rental properties on East Third Street, Lincoln Avenue and Grand Boulevard in Corona that are near the freeway, the report shows.

• Will Rollins, the Democrat challenging Calvert in the Nov. 5 election, assailed his opponent’s use of earmarks.

• “Unfortunately, too many families across our district are unsurprised to see these calls for a formal investigation into Ken Calvert,” Rollins said in an emailed statement.

• “While Inland Empire residents are facing rising housing costs, Ken Calvert is lining his own pockets using taxpayer dollars to secure earmarks near his own properties, inflating their value on California’s dime. Riverside County families deserve better leadership, and I hope the House Ethics Committee launches a formal investigation into Calvert’s self-dealing.”

• “Voters across Riverside County are sick of career politicians who exploit their taxpayer-funded jobs to enrich themselves, while everyday folks in Corona and across the 41st District are facing rising costs, including skyrocketing rents that make it harder to make ends meet.”

• Questions about Calvert’s use of earmarks first surfaced in the mid-2000s with several media reports zeroing in on the sale by Calvert and a real estate partner of 4.3 acres in Perris, just west of the 215 Freeway, for $985,000 — a 79% profit from the $550,000 they paid for it.

• Critics said Calvert pushed for an $8 million earmark to pay for a freeway interchange that raised the value of his property, which was 16 miles away.

• “Glory be, we made a profit,” Calvert said at the time. “I generally buy property to improve my financial lot. I don’t make any bones about it … They still haven’t passed a law that you can’t make personal investments.”

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