The independent office that reviews allegations against House members found probable cause that Rep. Troy Nehls of Texas converted campaign funds to personal use, triggering an investigation by the House Ethics Committee. The recommendation and full report were both released on Friday, with leaders emphasizing that this does not necessarily mean a violation has occurred and that the investigation is ongoing. Nehls, a second-term Republican and former county sheriff, is known for his support of Donald Trump and attended this year’s State of the Union address wearing a Trump-themed shirt.
The Office of Congressional Ethics recommended the committee investigation after seeking to determine whether Nehls’ campaign paid a company registered to him for reasons other than legitimate campaign purposes. The report detailed over $25,000 in rental payments made by Nehls’ campaign committee to an entity called Liberty 1776, LLC, for which Nehls was the registered agent. Campaigns are prohibited from spending money for personal use, including the purchase or lease of services from the member. Nehls did not cooperate with the investigation, leading to uncertainty about the legitimacy of the rental payments made to Liberty 1776.
Nehls’ attorney disputed the lack of cooperation with the Office of Congressional Ethics, stating that the requests for information were ambiguously worded. He further explained that Nehls and other candidates had an oral agreement to use a property in Richmond, Texas, as a campaign headquarters, with Liberty 1776 responsible for rent and improvements to the property. The attorney claimed that the rent payments made by Nehls to Liberty 1776 were legitimate and that an oversight led to the lack of disclosure of his affiliation with the company on financial forms.
The Office of Congressional Ethics is responsible for reviewing alleged violations of the law or House rules, with the House Ethics Committee ultimately making a final determination on whether violations occurred. Nehls has indicated that he will cooperate with the House panel’s investigation as it continues to look into the use of campaign funds by the congressman. The investigation will seek to uncover any potential misuse of funds and determine whether Nehls violated any laws or rules governing the use of campaign resources for personal gain. The outcome of the investigation could have significant implications for Nehls’ political future and reputation as a lawmaker.
