A recent disclosure has revealed that the Office of Congressional Ethics found probable cause that Rep. Troy Nehls of Texas may have converted campaign funds for personal use. This finding has prompted an investigation by the House Ethics Committee. The full report and recommendation from the ethics office were released as required by law.
It is important to note that the disclosure of probable cause does not automatically indicate a violation has occurred. The investigation into Nehls is ongoing, and his lawyer has stated that the lawmaker did not personally benefit from the flagged arrangement.
Nehls, a second-term Republican congressman and former county sheriff, has been a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump. The Office of Congressional Ethics recommended the committee investigation in December by a unanimous vote.
The investigation centers around whether Nehls' campaign committee made improper payments to a company, Liberty 1776, LLC, of which Nehls was the registered agent. The ethics office raised concerns about more than $25,000 in rental payments made to the company since late 2019.
Campaign funds are prohibited from being used for personal expenses, including payments to the member or their affiliated entities. The report highlighted that Nehls did not disclose any income from Liberty 1776 on his financial disclosure forms.
Nehls' attorney disputed claims of non-cooperation with the ethics office, stating that Nehls and other candidates had agreed to use a property in Richmond, Texas, as a campaign headquarters. The attorney asserted that the rent payments to Liberty 1776 were legitimate and related to the campaign office use.
The attorney also mentioned that Nehls would amend his financial disclosure form to include his association with Liberty 1776, attributing the initial omission to oversight.
The House Ethics Committee, comprising 10 lawmakers, will ultimately determine whether any violations occurred. Nehls has expressed willingness to cooperate with the committee's investigation as it progresses.
