Representative Rashida Tliab (D-MI) is undergoing an extended review by the House Ethics Committee over salary issues from her 2018 campaign; prior to her election into the House of Representatives.
This is the first time the committee has acknowledged that Tliab’s actions are being carefully examined.
Committee Chairman Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) and Texas Representative Kenny Marchant (R-TX) released a joint statement saying the review
"does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred or reflect any judgment on behalf of the committee."
On November 14 the committee will announce whether they will be opening a formal investigation.
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) allows nonincumbent candidates who are running for office and are not currently serving in office, to collect a salary. The campaign salary allows for first-time candidates, who aren’t wealthy, to run for office.
A Tliab spokesman denied any illegal activity and claimed the review includes allegations about her salary during the 2018 campaign.
“Representative Tlaib has cooperated completely with the Committee to resolve the referral, which involves the same claims over her publicly disclosed salary during the campaign that conservative groups pressed back in March. Representative Tlaib fully complied with the law and acted in good faith at all times.” Tlaib spokesman Denzel McCampbell
In March, FEC reports showed Tliab’s campaign paid $17,500 in salaries after the November 6, 2018 election. One payment was for $2,000 dated November 16 and the other was $15,500 dated Dec. 1.
Tlaib is not the only rookie Representative to have taken a campaign salary. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who was a bartender before she ran for office also took a salary.
According to the FEC rules, salary payments can be made until the date of the general election or until the candidate is no longer running. The amount for the salary payment cannot exceed the minimum annual salary amount for the position the candidate is running for or the income amount received in the previous year.
Regular members of Congress currently earn a salary of $174,000 annually.
TAGS ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ KENNY MARCHANT RASHIDA TLAIB TED DEUTCH HOUSE INVESTIGATION THE SQUAD
