MORGANTOWN – The U.S. House Ethics Committee has closed its inquiry into alleged misspending of campaign funds by Rep. Alex Mooney – West Virginia’s 2nd District Congressman – and cleared him of any wrongdoing, the committee announced on Monday.
“In several of the matters that the Committee is resolving,” it said, “there was evidence that the member’s campaign did not fully comply with the applicable standards relating to personal use of campaign funds, as well as reporting or record-keeping requirements for campaign expenditures. However, there was no evidence that any member intentionally misused campaign funds for their personal benefit.”
Mooney commented, “I am grateful to announce that the longstanding bipartisan U.S. House Committee on Ethics has fully dismissed all allegations raised against me following their inquiry in which I fully cooperated and answered all their questions.
“It has been clear all along this was a politically motivated move from the separate Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE), which was created by then Speaker Nancy Pelosi in 2019,” Mooney said.
“After facing these baseless accusations—driven by politically motivated actors on the extreme left—since 2021, I am pleased that my good name has been fully cleared.”
The committee said on Monday that it investigated allegations that several members “may have used campaign funds for purposes that are not legitimate and verifiable.”
It determined to close several such matters, it said, including those relating to allegations referred by the OCE involving Mooney and Reps. Sanford Bishop, D-Ga., Wesley Hunt, R-Texas, and Ronny Jackson, R-Texas.
The 2021 OCE report alleged that Mooney might have
- accepted a free or below-market-value trip to Aruba, as well as free lodging and event space from a company that provides services to his campaign committee;
- used official resources, including staff time, for campaign work and personal errands;
- authorized expenditures from his Members’ Representational Allowance that were not for permissible official expenses;
- disbursed campaign funds that may not be legitimate and verifiable campaign expenditures attributable to bona fide campaigns or political purposes;
- withheld, concealed, or otherwise falsified information during an OCE investigation.
It referred the matter to the Ethics Committee in August 2021.
The committees said Monday that the Code of Official Conduct provides that members “may not convert campaign funds to personal use in excess of an amount representing reimbursement for legitimate and verifiable campaign expenditures,” and generally “may not expend funds from a campaign account of such individual that are not attributable to bona fide campaign or political purposes.”
Federal campaign finance law also prohibits the personal use of campaign funds, the committee said.
The committee said members have “wide discretion” in determining what constitutes a bona fide campaign or political purpose for which campaign funds and resources may be devoted, but “members have no discretion whatsoever to convert campaign funds to personal use.”
But the committee also noted some areas of doubt. “Existing law and guidance from the FEC is often ambiguous and provides for significant gray areas of spending, and that it is apparent that the House community would benefit from updated guidance on personal use of campaign funds and related record-keeping requirements.
Accordingly, the Committee said Monday it is releasing guidance and has contacted relevant members to provide them with a copy of the updated guidance as well as specific findings and recommendations with respect to that member’s campaign activity. The committee will take no further action in those matters and will consider them closed.”
Mooney ran unsuccessfully to succeed Joe Manchin in the U.S. Senate. Mooney’s House term ends Jan. 3, 2025; he will be succeeded by Republican Riley Moore.
