Dem Rep Meeks Pushed $60K in Campaign Cash to Company Owned by Aide’s Wife

Gregory Meeks spent another $20K on Benz, Lexus bills

Democratic representative Gregory Meeks (N.Y.) pushed tens of thousands more to a company that was incorporated by the wife of his chief of staff in his New York district office, Federal Election Commission filings show. Meeks additionally used more than $20,000 in funds from his committee on lease and car expenses for a Lexus and Mercedes-Benz, both of which are marked as campaign vehicles, and lined the pockets of close consultants despite not having a real challenger in a number of years. Meeks cruised through a three-way Democratic primary this past cycle, topping the nearest challenger by more than 72 percentage points. Despite Meeks's lack of a legitimate threat to his seat, the New York congressman has steadily compiled an impressive amount of campaign cash.

Friends for Gregory Meeks, the New York congressman's campaign committee, reported more than $1 million in contributions throughout the 2018 cycle, including $770,000 that was transferred from other committees. The remaining $253,000 was given from individual donors. While the campaign raised more than $1 million, it also reported spending more than $1 million, much of which went into the pockets of D.C. consultants, toward credit card payments, catering and site rentals for events, and legal services.

The wife of Robert Simmons, Meeks's chief of staff out of his Jamaica, New York City office, was also paid tens of thousands of dollars by the campaign this past cycle. Patsy Simmons, who acts as the campaign's treasurer, typically an unpaid position, does not collect payments from the campaign directly to her name. Rather, payments are routed to Einna, Inc., a company that was incorporated in November 2008 by Simmons, according to New York business filings. Meeks's campaign made eight transfers totaling $60,000 to Einna this past cycle, filings show. Since 2010, her company has received more than $200,000 from the campaign. The Democratic congressman also spent $20,000 on vehicle bills, including monthly lease payments of $968 on a Lexus, which totaled nearly $17,000 from the beginning on 2017 to late 2018. Another $2,228.05 was put towards servicing the vehicle. The campaign disbursed $1,969.94 on auto repairs for a Mercedes-Benz. Meeks's campaign could not be reached for comment on the expenditures.

https://freebeacon.com/politics/dem-rep-meeks-pushed-60k-in-campaign-cash-to-company-owned-by-aides-wife/

Friends of Gregory Meeks Financial Statement

https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00430991/?cycle=2018&tab=summary

>>5089086

House Democrats fire two IT staffers amid criminal investigation

Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) confirmed to Politico that Hina Alvi’s last day as an IT support staffer in his office was Tuesday. Her husband, Imran Awan, was working for Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) as of Tuesday evening, but a spokeswoman for Fudge said midday Wednesday that Awan was no longer an employee.

https://www.politico.com/story/2017/03/house-democrats-it-staffers-hina-alvi-imran-awan-235569

House office settled suit with Meeks ex-staffer who alleged assault at donor-tied business: report

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-office-settled-suit-with-meeks-ex-staffer-who-alleged-assault-at-donor-tied-business-report

Dem introduces resolution calling for investigation of sexual misconduct allegations against Trump

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/364462-dem-introduces-resolution-calling-on-congress-to-investigate-sexual-misconduct

Subpoena takes Meeks by storm

https://nypost.com/2010/04/16/subpoena-takes-meeks-by-storm/

Pelosi Stacks Climate Committee with Dems Backed by Energy Interests

Appointees received campaign contributions from individuals, PACs affiliated with energy industry

Democratic speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) has appointed to the special committee on climate change members who have all received significant backing from the energy industry. On Thursday, Pelosi named Democratic representatives Ben Lujan (N.M.), Suzanne Bonamici (Ore.), Julia Brownley (Calif.), Sean Casten (Ill.), Jared Huffman (Calif.), Mike Levin (Calif.), Donald McEachin (Va.), and Joe Neguse (Colo.) to the newly reconstituted House Select Committee on Climate Crisis. The panel, which will be chaired Democratic congresswoman Kathy Castor (Fla.), is tasked with developing "innovative, effective solutions to prevent and reverse the climate crisis."

"We are thrilled to welcome so many visionary leaders and strong voices to our new Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, which will be vital in advancing ambitious progress for our planet," Pelosi said in a statement announcing the appointments. "Each Member brings great energy and deep expertise to the climate crisis, which jeopardizes our public health, our economy, our national security and the whole of God’s creation." Despite the speaker's confidence in the energy and expertise of her appointees, it is unclear if their history of taking campaign contributions from large energy conglomerates will prove problematic.

Castor, who has pledged to reject campaign contributions from fossil fuel interests, has taken more than $72,000 from individuals and political action committees associated with the energy and natural resources industry since joining Congress in 2007. The majority of the funds—approximately $59,000, according to the Center for Responsive Politics—came from PACs linked to the industry. As reported by the Washington Free Beacon, Castor previously owned stock in companies with troubling environmental records.

Similarly, Bonamici ($87,963), Brownley ($55,789), Casten ($46,259), Huffman ($118,310), Levin ($42,143), and McEachin ($62,364) all received significant backing from the industry throughout their congressional careers.

By far the largest recipient of industry contributions was Lujan, a member of Pelosi's leadership team who previously served as the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Since entering the House in 2009, Lujan has taken more than $522,000 from individuals and PACs linked to energy interests. Of that total, more than $438,000 came from PACs belonging to companies like BP, which donated $7,500 to Lujan in 2018 alone. Neguse, a freshman from Colorado, was the smallest recipient with only $3,316 flowing from energy interests to his campaign.

The more liberal members of the House majority have already raised concerns about the committee's impotence. Unlike permanent congressional committees, it will not have the ability to issue subpoenas or introduce legislation. Instead, the panel will only have the ability to advise and issue recommendations. The speaker's office did not return requests for comment on this story.

https://freebeacon.com/politics/pelosi-stacks-climate-committee-with-dems-backed-by-energy-interests/

>>5089412

That about sums it up, whack jobs all of them, kek