CfA Files Ethics Complaint Against 11 Members of Congress Alleging Collusion with Payday Loan Industry

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 5, 2015

CONTACT: Daniel Stevens, dstevens@campaignforaccountability.org, 202.780.5750

Washington, DC – Today, Campaign for Accountability (CfA) asked the Office of Congressional Ethics to investigate 11 members of Congress for possible criminal and ethics violations by accepting contributions from the payday lending industry shortly before or after taking official actions in support of the industry.

Those named in the complaint include: Rep. Stephen Fincher (R-TN), Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL), Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO), Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC), Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-TX), Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX), Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH), and Rep. Kevin Yoder (R-KS).

CfA Executive Director Anne Weismann stated, “It seems payday loans taken out by their constituents helped fund big paydays for members of Congress who used their positions to advocate on behalf of this unscrupulous industry.”

CfA’s request follows a report issued last week by Allied Progress that outlined actions taken by the representatives to aid payday lenders – including sponsoring legislation to limit oversight of the industry – either shortly before or after they received campaign and/or PAC contributions. CfA alleges this conduct may violate criminal laws regarding bribery, illegal gratuities and honest services fraud, as well as House rules prohibiting members from engaging in official action in return for campaign contributions.

At least seven of these members, for example, received contributions from the industry proximate in time to signing onto an August 22, 2013 letter to then-Attorney General Eric Holder and FDIC Chair Martin J. Gruenberg complaining about the Department of Justice’s “Operation Choke Point,” which payday lenders opposed.

Ms. Weismann continued, “The Office of Congressional Ethics should immediately investigate whether these members of Congress were abusing the public trust by carrying the water of the payday lending industry in exchange for contributions. Once again, it appears that the public good has been sacrificed at the alter of high dollar donors. This is exactly the sort of pay-to-play scheme that leaves Americans so disheartened about the state of our government.”

Campaign for Accountability is a nonpartisan, nonprofit watchdog organization that uses research, litigation, and aggressive communications to expose misconduct and malfeasance in public life and hold those who act at the expense of the public good accountable for their actions.