House Speaker Mike Johnson is facing serious accusations of breaking federal law by using campaign money to cover his personal rent. A watchdog group, the Campaign Legal Center, filed complaints this week saying Johnson used donor funds to pay rent for his D.C. home — a clear violation of federal rules.
“This is a clear-cut violation of federal campaign finance laws,” the group wrote in its complaint to the Federal Election Commission and the Office of Congressional Conduct.
Campaign money is meant to fund political work — not personal living costs. Federal law strictly bans the use of campaign funds for personal expenses, including housing. “When elected officials use campaign contributions for such personal expenses, they enrich themselves and undermine the public’s trust in their elected officials and the campaign finance system,” the complaint says.
The complaints zero in on five payments of $2,500 each — totaling $12,500 — listed as “rent” paid to Greene Properties Inc. That company is owned by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), who recently bought the $1.5 million home Johnson is now living in. The payments, according to the watchdog, don’t mention any official or campaign-related use of the space.
Instead, it appears Johnson is simply using campaign money to live in a house owned by a fellow Republican. “House rules require Speaker Johnson and other members to verify that campaign funds are used for legitimate campaign expenses,” the complaint notes.
Issa confirmed in April that Johnson is staying at his house, saying, “He’s a friend and needed a place.”
This isn’t the first time Johnson’s living arrangements have raised eyebrows. He previously lived in a $3.7 million townhouse tied to a controversial Tennessee pastor, Steve Berger, who resigned from a church board after being accused of ignoring reports of child abuse.
