Idaho senator faces campaign finance allegations
The Campaign for Accountability (CFA), a nonpartisan, non-profit watchdog group, filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) against Idaho Senator Mike Crapo (R) Thursday. The complaint also includes Vicki Hart, the lobbyist owner of a Washington D.C. condominium.
The complaint alleges Crapo and Hart failed to disclose improper in-kind contributions in violation of the Federal Election Campaign Act and FEC regulations.
CFA Executive Director Daniel E. Stevens stated, “The lobbyist owners of Scott Pruitt’s crash pad allowed Sen. Mike Crapo to host fundraisers at their Capitol Hill condo, seemingly at no cost. Is it just a coincidence that the senator also introduced legislation that benefits the clients of the townhouse’s owners? The FEC should investigate whether Sen. Crapo or Vicki and J. Steven Hart broke any federal laws.”
Stevens charges Crapo’s campaign committee, leadership, and political action committees, the Freedom Fund and the Idaho Conservative Growth Fund, held a series of monthly fundraising events at the condo owned by Hart. Hart is a registered lobbyist and married to J. Steven Hart. He is also a registered lobbyist and chairman of Williams and Jensen, a large lobbying firm.
Environmental Protection Agency Director Scott Pruitt lived at the same condo for several months, reportedly paying a well-below-market rate of $50 per night.
CFA alleges none of Crapo’s fundraising committees reported any payments to Hart or her LLC, 223 C Street, LLC.
Steven Hart is a registered lobbyist for British Bank, HSBC. During the time of Crapo’s fundraisers at the condo, Crapo introduced a bill to roll back some provisions of the 2010 Dodd-Frank law. That law included a provision that would have loosened regulations for banks like HSBC, according to Stevens.
“Campaign finance laws exist to protect the integrity of our electoral system. It’s not that complicated: lobbyists can’t let senators host fundraisers at their businesses for free. If Sen. Crapo or the lobbying power couple of Vicki and J. Steven Hart violated federal law, they should be held accountable.”
In response, Senator Mike Crapo’s office told us,”Senator Crapo, like other members of Congress, has used the townhouse for campaign-related events, but not for the Senator’s personal use or for any overnight stays. Last month, the Campaign initiated an internal review and then engaged outside counsel to examine the Campaign’s use of the townhouse and any resulting FEC reporting requirements. If necessary, the Campaign will file amended reports with the FEC to ensure compliance with campaign finance laws.”
