The House Ethics Committee said Monday that it is investigating West Virginia Representative Alex Mooney, as well as two others (Rep. Madison Cawthorn -R -North Carolina and Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas) regarding multiple allegations. The allegations against Moody range from converting campaign funds for personal use, accepting impermissible gifts, falsifying information as well as others.
“An investigation does not in itself indicate that a violation has occurred or reflect any judgement on behalf of the Committee” was a statement released on behalf of the ethics Committee.
Below is the information released from the Office of Congressional Ethics in regards to Rep. Mooney.
OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL ETHICS UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FINDINGS OF FACT AND CITATIONS TO LAW
Review No. 21-6998
On December 17, 2021, the Board of the Office of Congressional Ethics (hereafter “the Board”) adopted the following findings of fact and accompanying citations to law, regulations, rules, and standards of conduct (in italics). The Board notes that these findings do not constitute a determination of whether a violation occurred.
INTRODUCTION Summary of Allegations
- On March 9, 2021, the OCE opened a preliminary review to address allegations that Rep. Mooney had converted campaign funds to personal use. In that review (OCE Rev. No. 21- 6617), the OCE found substantial reason to believe Rep. Mooney spent campaign funds on personal meals and trips within his district and referred the matter to the Committee for further review.
- Following that review, evidence of additional potential violations came to the OCE’s attention. Accordingly, the OCE began the instant review to consider allegations that Rep. Mooney (1) accepted impermissible gifts from a campaign vendor in the form of a vacation to Aruba and free use of a Capitol Hill house for event space and lodging; (2) misused official resources and accepted gifts from his employees by requesting a litany of personal services be performed for him and his family; (3) converted official and campaign resources to personal use; and (4) tampered with or withheld documents from the OCE in the prior investigation into other personal use allegations.
- Evidence collected by the OCE establishes the following:
Rep. Mooney and his family enjoyed a vacation to the Ritz-Carlton in Aruba, paid for by HSP Direct, LLC, a company to which Rep. Mooney has significant financial and personal ties. Congressional staff resources were devoted to arranging the Mooneys’ travel, all while Rep. Mooney evaded Ethics Committee review of the trip.
Rep. Mooney, his family, and his campaign and congressional staff used a house on Capitol Hill associated with HSP Direct, LLC at no cost for lodging, workspace, and to host events.
Rep. Mooney routinely diverted official resources and staff time away from his constituents and official duties in favor of his and his family’s personal needs and sometimes for campaign activities. Moreover, staff rarely, if ever, were compensated for the substantial time and effort devoted to serving the Mooney family, and at times were
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CONFIDENTIAL
Subject to the Nondisclosure Provisions of H. Res. 895 of the 110th Congress as Amended
forced to absorb costs associated with personal errands or work extra hours to make up for lost time.
In addition to the instances of personal use identified in OCE Rev. No. 21-6617, Rep. Mooney converted campaign funds to personal use by purchasing groceries for personal consumption and paying for family activities with campaign funds.
As to the allegations by two former staffers that Rep. Mooney tampered with or withheld documents during the prior OCE Rev. No. 21-6617, OCE efforts to investigate these claims were significantly hampered by Rep. Mooney’s refusal to cooperate in this review. However, evidence and testimony indicate that Rep. Mooney may have offered false testimony and altered his calendar in order to conceal wrongdoing.
- Below are the specific allegations considered in this review and the Board’s recommendations:
- Rep. Mooney may 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. If Rep. Mooney accepted impermissible gifts in the form of a trip to Aruba and free lodging and event space, then he may have violated House rules, standards of conduct, and federal law.
- Rep. Mooney may have used official resources, including staff time, for campaign work and personal errands. If Rep. Mooney used official resources for campaign work and personal errands, then he may have violated House rules, standards of conduct, and federal law.
- Rep. Mooney may have authorized expenditures from his MRA that were not for permissible official expenses. If Rep. Mooney authorized impermissible MRA expenditures, then he may have violated House rules, standards of conduct, and federal law.
- Rep. Mooney’s campaign committees reported campaign disbursements that may not be legitimate and verifiable campaign expenditures attributable to bona fide campaign or political purposes. If Rep. Mooney converted campaign funds from his campaign committees to personal use, or if Rep. Mooney’s campaign committees expended funds that were not attributable to bona fide campaign or political purposes, then Rep. Mooney may have violated House rules, standards of conduct, and federal law.
- Rep. Mooney may have withheld, concealed, or otherwise falsified information during an OCE investigation. If Rep. Mooney withheld, concealed, or falsified information during the OCE’s investigation, then he may have violated House rules, standards of conduct, and federal law.
- The Board recommends that the Committee further review the above allegation concerning Rep. Mooney because there is substantial reason to believe that Rep. Mooney accepted impermissible gifts in the form of a trip to Aruba and free lodging and event space.
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CONFIDENTIAL
Subject to the Nondisclosure Provisions of H. Res. 895 of the 110th Congress as Amended
- The Board recommends that the Committee further review the above allegation concerning Rep. Mooney because there is substantial reason to believe that Rep. Mooney converted campaign funds from his campaign committees to personal use or Rep. Mooney’s campaign committees expended funds that were not attributable to bona fide campaign or political purposes.
Jurisdiction Statement - The allegations that were the subject of this review concern Rep. Mooney, a Member of the United States House of Representatives from the 2nd District of West Virginia. The Resolution the United States House of Representatives adopted creating the Office of Congressional Ethics (“OCE”) directs that, “[n]o review shall be undertaken … by the [B]oard of any alleged violation that occurred before the date of adoption of this resolution.”1 The House adopted this Resolution on March 11, 2008. Because the conduct under review occurred after March 11, 2008, review by the Board is in accordance with the Resolution.
Procedural History - The OCE received a written request for preliminary review in this matter signed by at least two members of the Board on August 10, 2021. The preliminary review commenced on August 11, 2021.2
- On August 11, 2021, the OCE notified Rep. Mooney of the initiation of the preliminary review, provided him with a statement of the nature of the review, notified him of his right to be represented by counsel in this matter, and notified him that invoking his right to counsel would not be held negatively against him.3
1 H. Res. 895 of the 110th Congress § 1(e) (2008) (as amended) (hereafter “the Resolution”).
2 A preliminary review is “requested” in writing by members of the Board of the OCE. The request for a preliminary review is received by the OCE on a date certain. According to the Resolution, the timeframe for conducting a preliminary review is 30 days from the date of receipt of the Board’s request.
3 August 11, 2021 Letter from Omar S. Ashmawy, Chief Counsel and Staff Dir., Office of Cong. Ethics, to Rep. Mooney. - The Board recommends that the Committee further review the above allegation concerning Rep. Mooney because there is substantial reason to believe that Rep. Mooney used official resources for campaign work and personal errands.
- The Board recommends that the Committee further review the above allegation concerning Rep. Mooney because there is substantial reason to believe that Rep. Mooney authorized impermissible MRA expenditures.
- The Board recommends that the Committee further review the above allegation concerning Rep. Mooney because there is substantial reason to believe that Rep. Mooney withheld, concealed, or falsified information during an OCE investigation
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