Watchdog Requests Investigation into Arizona Rep. Mark Finchem for Violations of Financial Disclosure Laws
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 23, 2021
Contact: Michael Clauw, mclauw@campaignforaccountability.org, 202.780.5750
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Campaign for Accountability (CfA) filed a complaint with Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs requesting an investigation into whether State Representative Mark Finchem (R-Oro Valley) violated financial disclosure laws by failing to disclose a $6,000 payment the Trump campaign made to his company, Mark Finchem, PLLC, for consulting in support of the former President’s election fraud lie.
CfA Executive Director Michelle Kuppersmith said, “Arizona law is clear that all public officers must file financial disclosure forms. Rep. Finchem must be held accountable for violating the law.”
When asked about the payment, Rep. Finchem claimed that it was “for crowd control and security costs” for a Nov. 30 meeting he arranged with Rudy Giuliani and various Republican officials to discuss ways to potentially reverse Trump’s 2020 election loss. Yet, Rep. Finchem’s 2020 financial disclosure, filed in January 2021, did not include Mark Finchem, PLLC or the $6,037.57 that the business received from the Trump campaign that year.
In addition to this apparent violation, Rep. Finchem may have committed numerous additional violations over a seven-year period by failing to disclose the existence of Mark Finchem, PLLC, which filed its articles of incorporation in 2008, on any of his financial disclosure forms since he joined the House of Representatives in 2015. Arizona law also requires public officials to report any outside income source that exceeds $1,000 per year, but Rep. Finchem has never disclosed any payments to Mark Finchem, PLLC.
Public officers file financial disclosure forms with the Secretary of State, who refers violations to the Attorney General for potential prosecution. Knowingly filing a false or incomplete financial disclosure form is a criminal offense, subject to imprisonment and civil fines.
Rep. Finchem took part in the January 6th insurrection at the United States Capitol, has supported former President Trump’s false allegation of election fraud, and is a self-proclaimed member of the Oath Keepers, a right-wing, anti-government militia organization composed of current and former military, police and first responders.
Ms. Kuppersmith continued, “Not only does it appear Rep. Finchem violated financial disclosure laws intended to ensure Arizona citizens know whether their officials are working for the public interest or their own financial interests, he did so in the support of a delusional conspiracy that ultimately led to the violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Arizona citizens deserve better.”
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.