Representative Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) has long grabbed the political spotlight through some of her unusual tactics of investigations and accusations. It now appears that Bachmann may be facing charges herself in the ongoing investigation into her activities.
Earlier this month, the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) referred its investigation into Bachmann’s 2012 presidential campaign to the House Ethics Committee. The House Ethics Committee has now extended their investigation into Bachmann intending to arrive at a decision by Sept. 11, 2013.
In a press release statement issued Friday, the House Ethics Committee wrote:
Pursuant to House Rule XI, Clause 3(b)(8)(A) and Committee Rules 17A(b)(1)(A) and
17 A( c)(1), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Ethics have jointly decided
to extend the matter regarding Representative Michele Bachmann, which was transmitted to the
Committee by the Office of Congressional Ethics June 13, 2013.The Committee notes that the mere fact of a referral or an extension, and the mandatory
disclosure of such an extension and the name of the subject of the matter, does not itself indicate
that any violation has occurred, or reflect any judgment on behalf of the Committee.The Committee will announce its course of action in this matter on or before Wednesday,
Sept. 11, 2013.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that Bachmann will be facing charges or removal from Congress. The issued statement only means that the House Ethics Committee has concurred with the findings of the OCE investigation that the matter of concern into Rep Michele Bachman deserves further scrutiny.
In particular, the OCE seems especially interested in Bachmann’s 2011 book tour of her memoir “Core of Conviction.” It’s believed that Bachman may have used campaign funds and/or resources for her book tour. Federal election and House ethics rules strictly forbid such actions which are considered to be personal business activities.
The FBI and the FEC are each currently investigating Bachman concerning allegations of money laundering, wire fraud, and mail fraud. However, that investigation had not stopped her from continuing to raise funds for a nonexistent re-election campaign. Two weeks after her announcement that she would not seek a fifth term, the congressional campaign’s website was still viewable and still accepting donations for that campaign. At the time of this writing, almost 2 full months since her announcement, the donation page is still running.
A number of former staffers and aides have come forward and given sworn testimony to investigators as to the validity of these allegations.
Former national field coordinator, pastor, and adviser for Bachmann, Peter Waldron, has filed a complaint with the FEC alleging that Bachmann approved secret payments in the amount of $7500 per month to Iowa state Senator Kent Sorenson in exchange for his help and support in that state’s 2012 Presidential caucuses. Iowa Senate Ethics Committee is investigating Senator Sorenson for any possible violations. Sorenson was also Bachmann’s Iowa State campaign chair, until he resigned to support Ron Paul. Waldron has previously spent time in jail on charges of gun smuggling and terrorism, and has direct ties to political and religious leaders seeking mass genocide of LGBT people in Uganda.
Andy Parrish, Bachmann’s former chief of staff, has signed an affidavit supporting Waldron’s claims. Parrish also served as deputy campaign manager of Minnesota for Marriage in an unsuccessful effort to pass a constitutional effort to prohibit same-sex marriage in 2011. In the past, he has only been identified as “Witness A.”
There is also the testimony and lawsuit of former staffer Barbra Heki. Heki alleges that Sorenson and other former staff members of the Bachman campaign stole a statewide email list for the Network of Iowa Christian Home Educators off of her private computer. The complaint goes on to state that the perpetrator then used the email list to send out emails at the direction of Sorenson and members of the Bachmann Staff. Heki also alleges that Michele Bachman herself told her who was responsible and that the theft was deliberate. After serving 10 years on the board of NICHE, Heki and her husband were forced to step down over the incident.
If the House Ethics Committee finds any violations on the part of Rep. Michele Bachmann, she could be facing censure, reprimand, or a fine and only require a majority vote. Expulsion is another possibility, but that requires a 2/3 vote in the House. It’s unlikely that enough Republicans would vote for her expulsion. Regardless of the findings of the House Ethics Committee, the FEC and the FBI have yet to conclude either of their investigations. It is entirely possible that Michelle Bachmann could be facing a prison sentence when those are concluded.
Bachmann’s lawyer, William McGinley, has issued a statement to the press:
We are grateful that this matter is finally in the hands of the fair-minded and capable professionals at the House Committee on Ethics who we are confident will dismiss all allegations in this matter, including those that the OCE referred for dismissal ? despite the false representation to the contrary in OCE’s quarterly ?report.’ Under the House Rules, a referral by the OCE to the Committee on Ethics does not mean that a violation has occurred or that the Committee on Ethics has rendered any judgment in the matter. Any inference to the contrary is false.
It’s no leap of the imagination to assume that Michele Bachman’s announcement of leaving politics was actually an effort to draw the attention away from her and hopefully close down the investigations. Bachmann has made it clear that she is not retiring from politics and wants to leave the door open for a future campaign run. Her future in politics could be dependent on whether or not she can stay out of prison.
Photo of Michele Bachmann from Wikimedia Commons.
Edited/Published: EAP
