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Congressman John James
A Michigan Democratic Party activist filed an ethics complaint Friday with the U.S. House Committee on Ethics against Republican gubernatorial candidate John James, alleging he used congressional resources for his campaign, the Macomb Daily reports.
The complaint, filed by Joel Rutherford, former chairperson of the Michigan Democratic Party’s 10th Congressional District, alleges that James used taxpayer resources from his U.S. House office at a Wednesday event in Shelby Township, where at least one staffer and several printed signs also promoted the Republican lawmaker’s run for governor of Michigan, the publication reports.
“His actions both mistreat taxpayers by misusing their hard-earned money for the private benefit of James’s campaign — and undermine our democracy by abusing the power of the United States Congress to influence a state election,” Rutherford wrote in the complaint.
The event in question was at a minor league baseball game in Utica that featured a free giveaway of backpacks and classroom supplies.
James spokeswoman Hannah Osantowske said in a statement, according to the Macomb Daily:
“For three years, John James has supplied Michigan kids with free backpacks and school essentials, using no taxpayer dollars. Democrats, obsessed with government dependency and a woke agenda, attack a true leader for helping families."
