Numerous House Republicans Have Been Caught, Just Like Trump, Inappropriately Spending “Other People’s Money”
This week, while reporters were exposing Donald Trump for spending $258,000 from his charity to settle lawsuits for his businesses and $20,000 on a self-portrait, he was on the campaign trail bragging about how great he is at spending “other people’s money.”
“It’s called OPM. I do it all the time in business. It’s called other people’s money … There’s nothing like doing things with other people’s money because it takes the risk — you get a good chunk out of it and it takes the risk.”
True to form, the entire Party of Trump shares a penchant for inappropriately spending “other people’s money.”
Rep. Darrell Issa (CA-49): Despite holding the title of richest member of Congress with a net worth of up to $768 million, Issa has steered millions of dollars in taxpayer money to projects that benefit his own properties.
Sheriff Paul Babeu (AZ-01): Embattled Sheriff Paul Babeu is facing allegations that he improperly used taxpayer funds to benefit his campaign for Congress. Now we’ve learned recently that the FBI is issuing subpoenas in the case.
Rep. Erik Paulsen (MN-03): Erik Paulsen has taken more than $75,000 in trips for himself and family members paid for by special interests. He also radically increased his spending of taxpayer funds on mass mailings only after he found himself facing a serious challenge from State Sen. Terri Bonoff, nearly doubling what he spent in 2014 and 2015.
Rep. Bruce Poliquin (ME-02): Multimillionaire Bruce Poliquin was caught using taxpayer funds to pay for hotel rooms in DC, a practice explicitly prohibited by House Rules.
Rep. Mia Love (UT-04): Mia Love was caught using taxpayer funds to pay for her flight to DC to attend the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. She only agreed to reimburse after being caught lying about why she had to fly back to DC using the lame excuse that she had “official meetings” that weekend. She was also caught trying to get reimbursed by taxpayers for a flight she never took.
Rep. John Mica (Fl-07): John Mica has come under fire for using hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign funds on so-called “meals with constituents” in places like New York, Arizona, Illinois and Blowing Rock, North Carolina, where Mica just happens to own a vacation home.
State Senator Tom Garrett (VA-05): Tom Garrett recently got caught using his state Senate campaign account to help launch his bid for Congress, potentially violating the law.
Rep. Steve Knight (CA-25): Steve Knight was caught spending more than $1,000 in taxpayer funds on hotels and taxi rides in DC, a practice explicitly prohibited by House Rules.
Rep. Tom Reed (NY-23): Tom Reed was caught in 2013 using campaign funds to pay his personal property taxes. In 2016, reporting revealed that Reed has been spending more than $45,000 in campaign funds on rent to a company owned by members of his family. Reed has also used campaign funds to contribute $1,750 to his daughter’s cheerleading squad.
Rep. Rod Blum (IA-01): Rod Blum talks a good game about ending government perks, but he’s also come under fire for spending more than $400,000 in taxpayer funds on campaign-style mailings and mass communications, more than any other Member of Congress.