The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee launched a website to “help voters keep track of all the indictments, ethical violations, mistresses and embezzlements” of Republican lawmakers and candidates.
The DCCC tied the “House of Scandal” site to its effort to beat back Republicans hoping to win the seat of retiring Rep. Bill Owens (D-N.Y.). Among the GOP hopefuls are Elise Stefanik, a former George W. Bush administration staffer who has gained the majority of GOP endorsements in the district, and Matt Doheny, a wealthy investor who has run for the seat and lost three times. Documentary filmmaker Aaron Woolf has unanimous backing from Democratic Party county chairs for the nomination.
Doheny is singled out on the site for failing “to pay his own campaign staff fair wages, was accused of failing to pay workers compensation for injuries, was sued twice for failing to pay his rent on time, and was slapped in handcuffs after boating while intoxicated”
“Michael Grimm isn’t the only New York Republican running for Congress under growing cloud of scandal – he’s also joined by Matt Doheny, who just can’t seem to keep himself out of trouble,” said Marc Brumer of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Whether it’s failing to pay his own campaign staff fair wages or getting slapped in handcuffs for drunk boating, a cloud of scandal follows Matt Doheny wherever he goes. Doheny’s antics have earned him a spot right next to Michael Grimm in the House of Scandal.”
Rep. Michael Grimm’s (R-N.Y.) 20-count indictment, unveiled last month, charges that the congressman violated various laws while running a health-food restaurant in Manhattan prior to his political career, including hiring illegal immigrants and paying his staff in cash under the table. Grimm pleaded not guilty and vows to fight the charges, not resign his seat and run for re-election. The New York Daily News noted Sunday that one of the prosecutors who investigated Grimm’s case, Democrat Todd Kaminsky, began his campaign for the congressman’s seat at least a month before the indictment.
The DCCC’s scandal site also include Rep. Vance McAllister (R-La.), who was caught on camera making out with his scheduler and subsequently announced he would not run again for his seat.
It also highlights a handful of House Ethics Committee investigations, including against Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) charging that she violated campaign finance laws during her 2012 presidential bid.
The site also goes after Utah congressional candidate Mia Love, leaning on email obtained by the Huffington Post last month that allege she used her official email as mayor of Saratoga Springs to conduct campaign business.
Love faces attorney Doug Owens (D) for the seat being vacated by retiring Rep. Jim Mathseon (D-Utah.).
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