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Top Dem Clyburn Funneled Six Figures in Campaign Cash to Family During Midterms: Records

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OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.


One of the House’s top Democrats paid six figures in campaign cash to family members during the 2022 midterm election cycle, according to federal records.

Fox News reported that Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, who was instrumental in helping then-Democratic candidate Joe Biden win his state’s presidential primary in 2020, paid tens of thousands of dollars “to a company linked to his son-in-law,” while he also gave “nearly $100,000 to his grandson, Federal Election Commission records show.”

“While it’s legal for federal politicians to pay family members from their campaigns, ethics experts have generally disapproved of the practice. Despite this, both political parties have taken advantage of the perk,” the report continued.

The outlet noted further:

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Clyburn’s family payments the last election cycle include $57,500 to 49 Magnolia Blossom LLC for rent expenses, filings show. That company has close ties to his daughter, Jennifer Clyburn Reed. According to South Carolina business records, Clyburn Reed’s husband, Walter A Reed, is the registered agent of the limited liability company. 

Clyburn also paid out $94,000 to his grandson Walter A.C. Reed during the midterm election cycle for “campaign management fees,” his filings further show. 

The South Carolina Democrat has never faced a serious challenge to his House seat since first being elected to the state’s 6th Congressional District in 1993. After he helped Biden secure the state’s primary victory, the president returned the favor by nominating Clyburn’s daughter, a former teacher, as federal co-chair of the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission in 2021. The Senate narrowly confirmed her for the post; the commission works to relieve poverty in the southeastern U.S.

Another long-serving Democrat, California Rep. Maxine Waters, paid her daughter over $1.2 million since 2004, which included the younger Waters getting another six figures in payments in the 2022 cycle.

“Karen Waters pocketed $192,300 from her mother’s campaign to keep her ‘slate mailer’ operation afloat between Jan. 2021 and Dec. 2022, a Fox News Digital review of Federal Election Commission filings shows. The setup involves outside campaigns paying Waters’ campaign to appear on the slate mailers – or endorsement mailers – sent out to constituents in the Los Angeles area,” Fox News reported separately.

“The practice is highly unusual on the federal level, and Waters appears to be the only national politician using it to grab committee cash. Slate mailers, however, are commonplace in her home state of California, though critics say it involves deceptive practices over one campaign paying another for a politician’s backing in an election. Waters received the green light to run the operation from the Federal Election Commission in the fall of 2004. Since then, Karen Waters has received more than $1.2 million in payments from her mother’s campaign,” the outlet added.

It’s legal for federal lawmakers to employ family members on campaigns, but the practice is frowned upon by ethics experts.

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Republicans are aiming to put a ban on lawmakers from putting family members on the campaign payroll after many prominent Democrats have been called out over the practice.

Republican Texas Rep. Pat Fallon has introduced legislation called the Family Integrity to Reform Elections Act, which would prevent campaign funds from going to a candidate’s immediate family.

The bill, if passed, would also make the candidate directly responsible for knowingly violating the provision.

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“The Family Integrity to Reform Elections (FIRE) Act is a critical step to reducing nepotistic practices in American campaigns. Allowing direct family members to be on the take of campaigns must come to an end. For example, Maxine Waters, the worst perpetrator, has given her daughter over $1.1 million in campaign funds. This is utterly egregious, and I will not stand by as the integrity of our elections is further diminished,” Fallon told the Daily Caller.

“Maxine Waters [paid] $1.1 million to her daughter from campaign funds,” Fallon said in a statement. “Ilhan Omar, $2.9 million to her husband from campaign funds. James Clyburn, over $200,000 to multiple family members from his campaign.”

“The numbers speak for themselves,” Fallon added. “Americans are sick of politicians abusing their voters’ hard-earned money. This modern-day spoils system must end. My bill shines a light on shady campaign finance practices while punishing those who take advantage of these funds to enrich their families.”

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