Thursday March 28th, 2024 1:49PM

Georgia Rep. Broun's hiring of consultant faulted

By The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) An outside ethics review has found ``substantial reason to believe'' that Rep. Paul Broun, R-Georgia, violated House rules and federal law by using official House funds to hire a consultant for debate preparations and other campaign work. <br /> <br /> The independent Office of Congressional Ethics said in a report released Wednesday that Broun paid GOP political consultant Brett O'Donnell nearly $44,000 from June 2012 to March 2014 using his official allowance as a member of Congress. <br /> <br /> Lawmakers are barred from using official funds for campaign purposes. O'Donnell worked for Broun during his 2012 re-election campaign and a failed Senate campaign this year. <br /> <br /> The House Ethics Committee said it was continuing an investigation into Brown's actions, although action is considered unlikely before Broun retires from Congress in January. <br /> <br /> Broun, who has served four terms representing northeastern Georgia, said in a statement that he is cooperating with the committee and will continue to do so throughout its review. <br /> <br /> ``I am confident that I acted in compliance with all House rules, and I look forward to a favorable resolution of this matter,'' Broun said. <br /> <br /> The Office of Congressional Ethics is an outside organization that can refer cases to the House committee. <br /> <br /> The report said Broun hired O'Donnell's firm, O'Donnell & Associates, in June 2012, as a ``communications and messaging consultant'' to Broun's official office. <br /> <br /> House members are barred from hiring consultants for their congressional offices. According to a congressional handbook, House members may hire ``contractors,'' but only for general, nonlegislative and nonfinancial services such as equipment maintenance, web services, data entry or training. <br /> <br /> O'Donnell received just one payment from Broun's campaign office an $838 travel reimbursement in April 2013, the report said.
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