Vulnerable Rod Blum Under House Ethics Inquiry
Source: Roll Call
The House Ethics Committee has taken up an inquiry into Iowa Republican Rod Blum. The case was referred from the Office of Congressional Ethics on July 19, and the Ethics Committee will announce a course of action before Dec. 17, according to a release.
Blum called the inquiry a crusade of personal destruction being waged against him by the radical left.
In my case they scream ETHICS VIOLATION! over a clerical error on a form. Once this minor error was brought to my attention, I immediately self-reported to the Ethics Committee and apologized, Blum said in a statement. He said that between 30 percent and 50 percent of all reports reviewed by the Ethics Committee contain errors, data that Roll Call was not able to confirm.
In February, Associated Press reported that Blum violated House ethics rules by failing to disclose his ownership role in a new company and that his top federal staffer was featured in a false testimonial promoting the companys services.
Read more: http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/vulnerable-rod-blum-house-ethics-inquiry
Eliot Rosewater
(31,121 posts)BumRushDaShow
(129,441 posts)But the House Ethics Committee is run by Republicans.
riversedge
(70,299 posts)BumRushDaShow
(129,441 posts)Renew Deal
(81,871 posts)Sounds like more than a "clerical error"
riversedge
(70,299 posts)............Blum was listed as a director of the Tin Moon Corp when it was incorporated in May 2016. One of the services the company offers is helping businesses rebound after Food and Drug Administration safety violations by burying warning letters under positive internet search results. After being questioned about Blums role, Tin Moon removed a photo of Blum wearing his congressional pin and changed his title from CEO to majority shareholder.
Blum is considered one of the most vulnerable GOP incumbents up for re-election. He will face Democratic state Rep. Abby Finkenauer in November. Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the race a Toss-Up. Donald Trump beat Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential race in Blums district, 49-45 percent.
riversedge
(70,299 posts)According to Politico, GOP officials feel that up to 45 Republican-held seats are now at serious risk, and are making plans to shut down support for incumbents whose campaigns are going nowhere and have failed to do much on their own to raise much-needed campaign donations.
This is the time of year when tough decisions have to be made, Ken Spain, a longtime former top National Republican Congressional Committee staffer, told Politico. There are likely going to be a number of unhappy Republican members of Congress in the coming weeks.
According to the report, the party is looking at polling to determine whom to weed out, with Rep. Barbara Comstock (VA), Rep. Keith Rothfus (PA), and Rep. Rod Blum (IA) reportedly on the funding chopping block............
https://www.rawstory.com/2018/08/panicked-gop-cutting-off-cash-highly-vulnerable-candidates-face-midterm-bloodbath-tied-trump/