Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT), a non-partisan ethics watchdog, filed a complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics.
They want Democrat Rep. Marie Newman (IL) investigated for possible federal law and ethics violations. She allegedly bought off another candidate in what was a very tight race.
Kendra Arnold, the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust executive director, is the one that filed the complaint against Newman. She stands accused of buying off Iymen Chehade by promising him a six figure salary job if she were to be elected.
She won her race and now represents the Third District in Illinois. But she was stupid and made two very bad mistakes, otherwise no one would have ever known.
Her first mistake is that she actually signed an agreement that specified his job title and his salary would be at least $135,000 a year with increases in the years to follow.
Even that would not have exposed her to being caught because of the second mistake she made.
After she was elected and sworn in, she did not hire Chehade.
Arnold outlined the federal law:
Whoever, being a candidate, directly or indirectly promises or pledges the appointment, or the use of his influence or support for the appointment of any person to any public or private position or employment, for the purpose of procuring support in his candidacy shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if the violation was willful, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.
“On no level does the law allow our public officials to use taxpayer funds for their own benefit, and in fact, it specifically prohibits promising a future government job in an attempt to gain political support by persuading an opponent not to run against you,” Arnold said in a statement.
She concluded her letter to the ethics office by mentioning, “to the best of her knowledge and ability, all evidence submitted was not obtained in violation of any law, rule, or regulation.” She added the ethics office is typically responsible for this type of investigation to ensure congressional members fulfill “the public trust inherent in the office” in addition to “the House’s ethical standard.”
