Georgia congressman used $90K in campaign funds on golfing, country clubs, report says
U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop of Georgia allegedly spent more than $90,000 in campaign funds for personal use rather than official business, according to a report by The Office of Congressional Ethics.
The independent watchdog entity, which investigates claims of lawmaker misconduct, alleges Bishop likely spent “tens of thousands of dollars” in campaign funds on “fuel, golf expenses, meals, travel, tuition, and entertainment,” according to an OCE report made public July 31.
“The OCE also obtained evidence suggesting Rep. Bishop may have spent Members’ Representation Allowance (MRA) funds on an annual holiday celebration in violation of House rules, standards of conduct and federal law,” the report states.
The 33-page report also points to lax bookkeeping by the campaign’s then-treasurer, Evelyn Turner Pugh, whose “deteriorating” health may or may not have contributed to the mismanagement of campaign records and falsified expenditures listed on filings to the Federal Elections Commission.
Bishop, a Democrat representing Georgia’s 2nd Congressional District, acknowledged some of the spending was “improper,” but offered explanations for why some expenses considered “personal” by the ethics board should be considered as campaign expenses. For example, when questioned about his fuel-related expenses, the congressman told the OCE that he “engages in political discussions wherever he travels, meaning that in his view, a trip to the grocery store, Walmart ... or other venue that may appear personal on its face, almost always entails some political component.”
The report also notes that Bishop’s campaign staff never logged mileage, so there’s no way of knowing which miles were traveled for official campaign business or personal business.
The congressman’s office addressed the report in a statement, saying it has since hired new campaign treasurers and retained a law firm to review the campaign’s finances.
“Before the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) notified him of its review, he was made aware of mistakes made by his campaign and had already taken immediate action to bring it into compliance,” Bishop’s office said. “Congressman Bishop has fully cooperated with the OCE’s review and proactively reimbursed many of the charges OCE identified as incorrect.”
“He will continue to work with the Ethics Committee openly and transparently, and is prepared to take any further, necessary corrective action,” Bishop’s office added.
The board said it would extend its review of the congressman’s spending, including several golf and country club expenditures that “may run afoul of personal use prohibitions.” The report found that Bishop’s campaign was footing the bill for his monthly membership and other fees at country clubs in Albany and Columbus.
Between January 2009 to September 2019, the campaign paid $30,177 to one of the clubs, plus an additional $6,853 in other costs that included meals, golf cart fees and merchandise, the OCE said. The campaign also spent $33,338 on membership at the second club from May 2014 to September 2019, along with a combined $16,226 in additional spending.
The board notes that these costs were not associated with the annual Golf Classic fundraiser Bishop hosted at the clubs.
“The OCE could not determine to what extent these additional, non-Golf Classic charges were in furtherance of bona-fide campaign or personal purposes,” the report read, adding that the congressman didn’t keep record of who he dined or golfed with.
“Specifically, Rep. Bishop said he views his time at the club as campaign-related because it affords him the opportunity to ‘run into’ supporters and constituents and then discuss political issues over a round of golf or a meal,” it adds.
Other spending by the campaign committee went toward Mother’s Day brunches for Bishop’s wife, who’s a municipal judge, his granddaughter’s school tuition and holiday trips to Hilton Head, according to the OCE report.
The board has recommended further review of the claims by the House Ethics Committee.
This story was originally published August 4, 2020 at 10:24 AM with the headline "Georgia congressman used $90K in campaign funds on golfing, country clubs, report says."