Representative David Schweikert, Republican of Arizona, was reprimanded and the House of Representatives bipartisan ethics committee on Thursday ordered the payment of a $ 50,000 fine after the ethics panel concluded a two-year investigation and found by unanimously campaign finance violations and other matters.
Schweikert admitted to 11 wrongdoings found by the panel’s investigative subcommittee, including pressuring staff members to raise funds for his campaign, abusing his members’ allocation of representation for unofficial purposes, and demonstrating a “lack of frankness and due diligence “during the investigation, including donating” false testimony “in points.
At the same time, the committee chose to avoid a more severe sanction or official censure “largely due to the congressman’s willingness to accept responsibility and agree to pay a substantial monetary fine.”
“Representative Schweikert did not act in a way that is credibly reflected in the House,” the ethics committee said in a statement.
The finding threatens to further undermine Schweikert’s chances of winning in a district run by President Trump by double digits in 2016. Democrats have invested money in the district in this election cycle.
In its full report, the committee’s investigative arm stated that Schweikert “did not take reasonable steps to ensure that his campaign committees function in accordance with applicable laws and standards of conduct, including the reporting requirements of the Federal Commission Act Electoral (FECA) “.
READ THE ETHICS REPORT
Specifically, between July 2010 and December 2017, Schweikert’s campaign committees “erroneously disclosed or failed to disclose at least $ 305,000 in loans or repayment of loans made or obtained to benefit their campaigns in Congress; they did not report at least $ 25,000 in disbursements made by his campaigns; he reported no more than $ 140,000 in contributions received by his campaigns; and he falsely reported that he made disbursements totaling $ 100,000, “according to the report.
“The errors violated FECA’s reporting requirements, House of Representatives Rule XXIII, clause 1, which requires members to act in a way that credibly reflects in the House, and paragraph 2 of the Code of Ethics to Government Services, which requires members to comply with the laws of the United States, “the report said.
In addition, between January 2011 and July 2018, Schweikert’s former chief of staff “made over $ 270,000 in disallowed disbursements on behalf of Representative Schweikert’s campaign, and at least three other Congressional staff members of Representative Schweikert conducted disbursements not allowed, totaling less than $ 500. “
Rep. David Schweikert, R-Arizona.
Schweikert “knew or should have known that Mr. [Oliver] Schwab made substantial purchases on behalf of his campaign, but did not prevent the practice. Federal law prohibits employees of Congress from making contributions to their employer member’s campaign; certain disbursements, even if they are reimbursed, are considered contributions and are therefore inadmissible. “
Schweikert also “misused campaign funds for personal purposes by accepting personal items from staff that were reimbursed by campaign funds,” the report read. “Between 2011 and 2018, at least four Representative Schweikert Congressional staff members paid for personal items for Representative Schweikert, including food and childcare services, and were then reimbursed for those items by Representative Schweikert’s campaign. “
Although the panel found other violations, it did not conclude that all of the charges against the congressman had merit. The investigative committee unanimously concluded, for example, that “allegations that Representative Schweikert may have authorized compensation to an employee who was not performing tasks commensurate with his employment in the House of Representatives and that he or his campaign committee could receiving loans or gifts from an employee of Congress could not be justified. “
In a statement Tuesday, Schweikert’s office did not directly address his conduct.
“We are pleased that the committee has issued its report and we can move forward from this chapter,” his office said. “As noted in the review, all issues have been resolved and Congressman Schweikert will continue to work hard for the Sixth District of Arizona.”
