LANSING — Two-time statewide loser John James is in hot water for once again misusing taxpayer-funded congressional resources to benefit his flailing gubernatorial campaign.
On Monday, a Michigan voter filed a complaint alleging that James’ congressional office was using taxpayer-funded digital advertising to reach voters across the entire Detroit media market, rather than just in the 10th Congressional District. House rules are clear that mass communications “must serve the district in which the Member represents, and to the greatest extent possible, shall not be targeted outside of the Member’s district.”
The voter complaint was released by Republican gubernatorial rival Mike Cox’s campaign, who slammed James in a statement: “As always, it’s John James first, the rules second, and the taxpayers left picking up the tab for his selfish ambitions.” On Tuesday following the complaint, James appeared to pull back the ads to just his district.
Self-funder Perry Johnson’s consultant John Yob posted that James “fraudulently diverts taxpayer funds allocated for keeping his constituents informed to instead wasting those tax dollars promoting himself outside his district. His campaign is broke, desperate, and breaking the law/ethics.”
This is the latest instance of James misusing taxpayer resources to benefit his campaign. Last fall, James was marred in an ethics scandal after he distributed campaign materials at an official event advertised through his congressional office. At the time, John Truscott, a prominent Michigan Republican, said that James’ campaign had “basically taken a gun and pointed at their own head with this kind of thing. This is just beyond stupidity.”
“John James is using taxpayer money to benefit himself while his campaign is struggling in the polls and he’s fighting with his primary rivals to try and get Donald Trump’s endorsement,” said Michigan Democratic Party spokesperson Derrick Honeyman. “Once again, James has shown he can’t be trusted as this GOP primary continues to get nastier and personal.”
Read more below on James’ latest ethics scandal:
Gongwer News Service: James facing campaign finance complaint alleging using congressional dollars for gubernatorial campaign
Read more below on James’ ethics scandal from last fall:
Michigan Advance: John James faces mounting pressure over alleged misuse of government resources to promote campaign
MLive: John James accused of misusing congressional resources to promote run for governor
WLNS: Ethics complaint targets Rep. John James for campaign misuse
MIRS: Ethics Complaint Made Against James For Backpack Giveaway
Gongwer News Service: Dems file ethics complaint over James event
Oakland Press: Michigan Dems cite potential ethics violation at John James event
Detroit News: Michigan Dems call out potential ethics violation at John James event
Washington Examiner: Michigan Democrat files ethics complaint against John James over misuse of congressional resources
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