Rep. David Schweikert was reprimanded by the House Ethics Committee after admitting to 11 ethics and improper spending violations.
On Thursday, the committee announced the Arizona Republican was ordered to pay a $50,000 fine after confessing to violating a string of ethics rules, including misuse of office funds. The House is anticipated to vote on his reprimand on Friday.
“At the completion of its investigation, the ISC unanimously concluded that there was substantial reason to believe that Representative David Schweikert violated House Rules, the Code of Ethics for Government Service, federal laws and other applicable standards in connection with: campaign finance violations and reporting errors by his authorized campaign committees; the misuse of his Members’ Representational Allowance for unofficial purposes; pressuring official staff to perform campaign work; and his lack of candor and due diligence during the investigation,” read a statement from Ethics Committee Chairman Ted Deutch and ranking member Kenny Marchant.
The Ethics Investigative Subcommittee found that Schweikert “erroneously disclosed or failed to disclose” $305,000 in loans or repayment of loans “made or obtained for the benefit of his congressional campaigns” from July 2010 to December 2017. He also failed to report “at least $25,000 in disbursements made by his campaigns; failed to report more than $140,000 in contributions received by his campaigns; and falsely reported making disbursements totaling $100,000.”
In a statement, Schweikert’s office said it was pleased the committee concluded its report and hoped to move on from the matter.
“We are pleased the Committee has issued their report and we can move forward from this chapter. As noted in the review, all issues have been resolved and Congressman Schweikert will continue working hard for Arizona’s 6th District,” his office said to the Washington Post.
The Washington Examiner first reported in fall 2017 that Schweikert’s chief of staff Oliver Schwab, who stepped down last year, had used thousands of taxpayer dollars on a vacation to Arizona in 2015 for the Super Bowl weekend. At the time, Schwab said, “I have been in compliance with House rules. I am in compliance with House rules. And I will continue to be in compliance with House rules.” The report found Schwab violated federal law by spending $270,000 on Schweikert’s campaign.
“Representative Schweikert knew or should have known that Mr. Schwab made substantial purchases on behalf of his campaign, but did not prevent the practice,” the committee’s report read.
