The House Ethics Committee is investigating Democratic Del. Michael F.Q. San Nicolas of Guam in response to allegations he misused campaign funds and was having an affair with a woman working in his congressional office.
“The Committee is aware of public allegations that Delegate Michael F. Q. San Nicolas may have engaged in a sexual relationship with an individual on his congressional staff, converted campaign funds to personal use, and/or accepted improper or excessive campaign contributions,” the 10-member bipartisan ethics panel announced in a statement Thursday.
The announcement comes a day after the panel said it would investigate another freshman Democrat, Rep. Katie Hill of California, over allegations she is romantically involved with her male legislative director. Hill denies it but has admitted to having an affair with a female campaign staffer and engaging in a “throuple” with her husband, who is now seeking a divorce.
San Nicolas took office in January and is among five nonvoting delegates in the U.S. House.
The ethics investigation comes after a former campaign staffer filed a complaint with the Guam Election Commission stating San Nicolas had accepted campaign donations beyond the federal limit.
The campaign staffer, John Paul L. Manuel, said San Nicolas, who is married, used campaign funds to carry on an affair with a woman he later hired to work in his congressional office, the Pacific Daily News reported.
Manuel worked for San Nicolas’s campaign but was not hired to work on his congressional staff.
San Nicolas called Manuel’s accusations “baseless,” according to the Associated Press.
San Nicolas has not yet responded to an inquiry from the Washington Examiner about the accusations.
