Drew Johnson, who has refused to file his required personal financial disclosure: “If there’s one thing I’ve learned after 20 years of working to improve government transparency and accountability, it’s that if you oppose transparency laws it’s because you’re up to bad stuff, or you’re trying to protect someone who is.”
As first reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, End Citizens United (ECU) filed a complaint with the Department of Justice (DOJ) last week against against Drew Johnson, the Republican candidate for Congress in Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District. The complaint centers on Johnson’s refusal to file a timely, complete, and accurate personal financial disclosure for 2024, as is required by federal law.
Johnson previously touted the importance of transparency and accountability in government. He has publicly remarked, “If there’s one thing I’ve learned after 20 years of working to improve government transparency and accountability, it’s that if you oppose transparency laws it’s because you’re up to bad stuff, or you’re trying to protect someone who is.” Given this stance, it raises serious red flags about why he refuses to disclose his financial interests.
“According to Drew Johnson’s own standards, he must be up to some ‘bad stuff,’” said End Citizens United President Tiffany Muller. “His failure to file a personal financial disclosure is not only a violation of federal law but a slap in the face to the principles of transparency that he pretends to uphold. Nevada voters deserve to have a clear view of his financial interests in order to understand what he would gain as a member of Congress and identify any corruption. We’re calling on the DOJ to investigate Drew Johnson and hold him accountable for withholding this critical information.”
The Complaint:
- Federal law requires candidates to not only file their initial financial disclosure report “within thirty days of becoming a candidate” or May 15 of that year – whichever is later – but it also requires them to file a financial disclosure report “on or before May 15 of each successive year” that the filer continues to be a candidate.
- Guidance by the House Ethics Committee reiterates this requirement by stating that individuals who qualify as a candidate during a non-election year (as Johnson did) “are .. required to file a second a financial disclosure report on May 15 of the following year if [they] are still a candidate on that date.”
- Candidates are only exempt from filing the second financial disclosure report if the candidate “takes action that is recognized under applicable state law as legally sufficient to withdraw as a candidate before the date on which their financial disclosure report is due.”
- Johnson is unquestionably still a candidate for Congress in Nevada’s 3rd Congressional district, and is the Republican nominee. He was required to file a FD Report no later than May 15, 2024, or request an extension beyond this deadline. Yet, nearly two months after that deadline, Johnson has still not filed a financial disclosure report nor requested an extension.
- This blatant failure to comply with the law and follow his responsibilities as a candidate for federal office puts Johnson in violation of the Ethics in Government Act.
- By refusing to file a financial disclosure report, he is hiding important information regarding his personal wealth from Nevada voters – information that he is required to share so they can make informed choices about who is best to represent them in Congress.
- Johnson’s lapse in responsibility is particularly troubling given Johnson’s previously stated commitments to transparency and accountability in government. He has publicly remarked, “If there’s one thing I’ve learned after 20 years of working to improve government transparency and accountability, it’s that if you oppose transparency laws it’s because you’re up to bad stuff, or you’re trying to protect someone who is.” If you take Johnson’s view, it raises the obvious question of why he still hasn’t filed his required disclosure.
- Congress has determined that the public interest in financial disclosure is strong enough to warrant civil penalties of up to $73,627 for knowingly and willfully failing to file such a report.
- I respectfully request that you commence an immediate investigation into this matter. Prompt action is necessary to ensure that Johnson complies with federal law and that the public is granted full disclosure of Johnson’s finances as a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives.
Click here to read the full complaint.
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