MORGANTOWN — West Virginia Congressman Alex Mooney is under investigation by the Office of Congressional Ethics for allegedly misspending campaign finance funds, according to a report in CQ Roll Call, a Capitol Hill publication.
First elected in 2018, Rep. Mooney, a Republican, represents the 2nd District and lives in Charles Town.
Roll Call reports that the investigation began in March. The OCE is asking Mooney about spending $49,000 worth of campaign money on resorts, meal purchases, car expenses and other expenses following a CQ report last October.
Spending under investigation: More than $6,100 on travel at resorts and hotels, including at Smoke Hole Caverns and Log Cabin Resort, Ace Adventure Resort and Canaan Valley Resort; more than $1,900 in campaign money on 53 occasions at Chick-fil-A, many near his residence; and more than $4,500 at Rooster’s Amish Shed on three equipment purchases in 2018.
Also: More than $19,000 at St. James Parish and St. Zita’s gift shop at the parish in Charles Town; and in 2020, four payments to Mooney from his campaign for more than $2,500, with no disbursement description.
CQ Roll Call relates that federal law and House rules prohibit using campaign money for personal expenses.
OCE explains that it is an independent, non-partisan entity charged with reviewing allegations of misconduct against members, officers, and staff of the House of Representatives and, when appropriate, referring matters to the House Committee on Ethics. The Ethics Committee can discipline members and determine whether a violation occurred.
OCE notes that in all but one set of circumstances, the report and findings of the OCE Board must be publicly released. No report on Mooney has yet been posted, indicating its work on the matter is not yet complete.
CQ Roll Call say that Dirk Haire, an attorney at Fox Rothschild and the chairman of the Maryland Republican Party, is listed as Mooney’s designated point of contact for the OCE probe. He did not respond to CQ Roll Call at the time of its report. The Dominion Post has submitted a request for a statement and is awaiting reply.
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