The Congressional Integrity Project sent a letter to the Office of Congressional Ethics seeking information on whether Rep. James Comer requested approval to author a book on his failed Biden impeachment political stunt. The letter follows reporting from Axios, who revealed the placeholder book cover on a publisher’s website.
The Congressional Integrity Project also sent a letter to Rep. James Comer, Chairman of the House Oversight Committee, urging him to investigate possible influence peddling and corruption involving the former president and current presidential candidate. The letter follows reports that Donald Trump’s media company was saved in part by a Russian-American businessman under scrutiny in a federal insider trading and money-laundering investigation and additional reporting that two other Trump Media investors pleaded guilty to securities fraud.
On Tuesday, April 9, Rep. Eric Swalwell (CA-14), a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, joined a virtual press briefing hosted by Congressional Integrity Project to call out MAGA House Republicans who have wasted the past year investigating Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Majorkas and voted to impeach the Secretary without a single shred of evidence of high crimes or misdemeanors. They were joined by Navkaran Gurm, a local advocate in California.
The impeachment of Secretary Mayorkas continues to be nothing but a political stunt at the direction of Donald Trump. House Republicans refused to seriously consider bipartisan border security legislation while moving forward with an impeachment that had no evidence of high crimes or misdemeanors and bipartisan opposition. While MAGA Mike Johnson clings desperately to his Speakership, he continues to pursue baseless impeachment inquiries and failed investigations rather than working on the important issues facing Californians and the American people.
CIP sent out 11 rapid-response products, including statements, fact sheets, and roundups.
Congressional Integrity Project sent a letter to Rep. James Comer, Chairman of the House Oversight Committee, urging him to investigate possible influence peddling and corruption involving the former president and current presidential candidate.
James Comer is attempting to release a book on his baseless Biden impeachment investigation later this year.
MAGA House Republicans planned to move forward with their partisan and blatantly unconstitutional attempt to undermine the Biden administration and are finally sending articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the Senate.
- FACT SHEET: MAGA Republicans’ No Evidence Impeachment of Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas Is Blatantly Unconstitutional
- FACT SHEET: Meet The MAGA Mayorkas Impeachment Managers
- ICYMI: Republican Senator Admits Mayorkas Impeachment Is Just A Political Stunt
Rep. Eric Swalwell (CA-14), a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, will join a virtual press briefing hosted by Congressional Integrity Project to call out MAGA House Republicans who have wasted the past year investigating Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Majorkas and voted to impeach the Secretary without a single shred of evidence of high crimes or misdemeanors
The Congressional Integrity Project launched a new poster pasting campaign welcoming James Comer back from recess.
the Congressional Integrity Project sent a letter to the Office of Congressional Ethics seeking information on whether Rep. James Comer requested approval to author a book on his failed Biden impeachment political stunt
- Congressional Integrity Project Requests Information From Office of Congressional Ethics on James Comer’s Reported Book Deal
- ROUNDUP: Comer Must Be Held to the Same Ethics Standards as the Rest of Congress
James Comer is once again fundraising off his baseless impeachment attempt of President Biden, sending out a plea for donations full of debunked conspiracy theories.
After yet another delay, MAGA House Republicans plan to present their articles of impeachment against DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the Senate next week.
CIP was mentioned or quoted in the following 12 articles or news appearances
The Guardian: Trump Media deal faces calls for inquiry over alleged ‘influence peddling’. “In a three-page letter on Thursday, the Democratic-aligned group Congressional Integrity Project pressed the Republican House oversight chair, James Comer, to launch a parallel congressional investigation into the Trump Media merger and hold hearings into the nature of the loans. ‘We are calling on you to investigate possible influence peddling and corruption involving a former president and current presidential candidate,’ wrote the Congressional Integrity Project’s executive director, Kyle Herrig.” [The Guardian, 4/4/24]
Raw Story: James Comer pushed to investigate Trump’s media company for ‘influence peddling’. “According to The Guardian, ‘In a three-page letter on Thursday, the Democratic-aligned group Congressional Integrity Project pressed the Republican House oversight chair, James Comer, to launch a parallel congressional investigation into the Trump Media merger and hold hearings into the nature of the loans. ‘We are calling on you to investigate possible influence peddling and corruption involving a former president and current presidential candidate,’ wrote the Congressional Integrity Project’s executive director, Kyle Herrig.’” [Raw Story, 4/4/24]
Latin Post: Donald Trump’s Trump Media May Get Investigated for Influence Peddling Over Deal That Saved It From Bankruptcy. “On Thursday, the Democratic-aligned group Congressional Integrity Project sent a three-page letter to the Republican House oversight chair, James Comer, to launch a congressional investigation into the Trump Media merger. This investigation would also look into the loans provided by Russian-American businessman Anton Postolnikov, who has ties to Russian despot Vladimir Putin.” [Latin Post, 4/4/24]
Benzinga: Democrats Allege ‘Influence Peddling And Corruption,’ Demand Probe Into Trump Media After Reports Allege Company Bailed Out By Russian-American Under Scrutiny For Money Laundering. “Democratic groups are calling for a congressional investigation into Trump Media following allegations that the company relied on emergency loans linked to a Russian-American businessman under federal investigation, to make its stock market debut. What Happened: The Congressional Integrity Project, a Democratic-aligned group, has sent a letter to the Republican House oversight chair, James Comer, requesting a probe into the merger between Trump Media Technology Group and Digital World Acquisition. The group is also demanding hearings into the nature of the loans, reported The Guardian. ‘We are calling on you to investigate possible influence peddling and corruption involving a former president and current presidential candidate,’ said the letter, according to the report.” [Benzinga, 4/4/24]
Benzinga: What’s Going On With Trump Media Stock? “Trump Media & Technology Group Corp. shares are trading lower Friday, and the stock is down more than 30% over the past five days. What To Know:According to a report from The Guardian, the Congressional Integrity Project sent a letter to the Republican House Oversight Chair, James Comer, requesting a probe into the merger between Trump Media Technology Group and Digital World Acquisition on Thursday. ‘We are calling on you to investigate possible influence peddling and corruption involving a former president and current presidential candidate,’ wrote the Congressional Integrity Project’s executive director, Kyle Herrig.” [Benzinga, 4/5/24]
PoliticusUSA: Calls Grow For Investigation Into Trump For Stock Influence Peddling. “The Congressional Integrity Project wrote to House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY): In light of your stated interest in rooting out corruption and influence peddling, we want to draw your attention to a new troubling report about Trump Media & Technology Group receiving funding from a Russian-backed trust1 as well as the news Wednesday that two investors in Trump Media pleaded guilty to securities fraud. We are calling on you to investigate possible influence peddling and corruption involving a former president and current presidential candidate.” [PoliticusUSA, 4/5/24]
MSN: Trump Media plunges another 10% to open trading week. “Also, last week, the Congressional Integrity Project sent a letter to the chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform asking it ‘investigate possible influence peddling and corruption’ regarding TMTG.” [MSN, 4/8/24]
Washington Examiner: Comer possible book deal spurs Democratic group to request ethics investigation. “The Democratic-aligned Congressional Integrity Project is requesting the Office of Congressional Ethics look into whether Comer requested approval for the reported book deal, according to a letter the group sent the office on Tuesday. The letter comes in response to a report from Axios that Comer has spoken with at least one publisher about a book detailing the impeachment inquiry. ‘Throughout his entire investigation, Representative Comer has used his role as Chairman of the House Oversight Committee for personal and political gain,’ the group wrote in its letter, first shared with the Washington Examiner. ‘The new reporting about a potential book deal is troubling as it appears Representative Comer is planning on using his unique position as Oversight Chair to turn a profit.’” [Washington Examiner, 4/9/24]
The New Republic: Comer Could Face Ethics Probe for Trying to Monetize Impeachment Probe. “In a letter sent Tuesday to the Office of Congressional Ethics, the watchdog group Congressional Integrity Project requested a probe into Comer’s deal, citing House Rule 25 as the basis for their request. The group noted that ‘members may not ‘receive copyright royalties under a contract … unless that contract is first approved by the Standards Committee.’ ‘As Representative Comer continues to hold hearings and attempts to build the case to impeach President Biden, the American people deserve to know the extent to which he is benefiting financially. It is clear already that he has a political motive to impeach the President and it should be revealed if he has a financial motive as well,’ the letter stated.” [The New Republic, 4/9/24]
Alternet: Watchdog group alleges Comer negotiating book deal to ‘turn a profit’ from impeachment dud. “‘Throughout his entire investigation, Representative Comer has used his role as Chairman of the House Oversight Committee for personal and political gain. He has been a frequent guest on conservative news channels pushing conspiracy theories and lies about his investigation and has used this impeachment inquiry to fundraise for his campaign,’ read the letter from Congressional Integrity Project executive director Kyle Herrig. ‘The new reporting about a potential book deal is troubling as it appears Representative Comer is planning on using his unique position as Oversight Chair to turn a profit.’ Herrig noted in his letter that under House Rule 25, members of Congress have to first have any members receive authorization from the Ethics Committee before they can reap financial rewards from copyright royalties like those for a typical book publishing contract.” [Alternet, 4/9/24]
Newsweek: James Comer’s Potential Biden Impeachment Book ‘Troubling’: Probe Request. “In response to reports about the alleged deal, watchdog group Congressional Integrity Project sent a letter to the Office of Congressional Ethics requesting information about any approval Comer has sought for the book and the status of said approvals. ‘Throughout his entire investigation, Representative Comer has used his role as Chairman of the House Oversight Committee for personal and political gain,’ the letter from Kyle Herrig, group director, said. ‘He has been a frequent guest on conservative news channels pushing conspiracy theories and lies about his investigation and has used this impeachment inquiry to fundraise for his campaign. The new reporting about a potential book deal is troubling as it appears Representative Comer is planning on using his unique position as Oversight Chair to turn a profit.’” [Newsweekm 4/9/24]
Youth Save Democracy: “This morning, our political director @ngurm_ joined @usintegrityorg & Congressman @EricSwalwell to call out MAGA House Republicans who have wasted the past year trying to impeach Secretary Majorkas without a shred of evidence.” [X, @YouthSaveDem, 4/9/24]
