OCE Referral Regarding Rep. Bill Huizenga

OCE Referral Regarding Rep. Bill Huizenga

OCE Referral Regarding Rep. Bill Huizenga Exhibits 1 of 3
OCE Referral Regarding Rep. Bill Huizenga Exhibits 2 of 3
OCE Referral Regarding Rep. Bill Huizenga Exhibits 3 of 3

On August 16, 2019, the Office of Congressional Ethics Transmitted a referral to the Committee on Ethics of the United States House of Representatives regarding Rep. Bill Huizenga.

Nature of the Review

Rep. Huizenga's campaign committee, Huizenga for Congress ("Campaign Committee"), may have accepted contributions from individuals employed in Rep. Huizenga's congressional office. If Rep. Huizenga failed to ensure that his campaign committee complied with applicable rules, regarding contributions from congressional employees, then he may have violated House rules, standards of conduct, and federal law.

The Campaign Committee reported campaign disbursements that may not be legitimate and verifiable campaign expenditures attributable to bona fide campaign or political purposes. If Rep. Huizenga converted campaign funds from the Campaign Committee to personal use, or if Rep. Huizenga's Campaign Committee expended funds that were not attributable to bona fide campaign or political purposes, then Rep. Huizenga may have violated House rules, standards of conduct, and federal law.

Rep. Huizenga may have authorized expenditures from his Members’ Representational Allowance (“MRA”) that were not for permissible official expenses. If Rep. Huizenga authorized impermissible MRA expenditures, then he may have violated House rules, standards of conduct, and federal law

OCE Recommendation

The Board recommended that the Committee further review the above allegation concerning Rep. Huizenga because there is substantial reason to believe that Rep. Huizenga's Campaign Committee accepted contributions from individuals employed in Rep. Huizenga's congressional office.

The Board recommended that the Committee further review the above allegation concerning Rep. Huizenga because there is substantial reason to believe that Rep. Huizenga's Campaign Committee reported campaign disbursements that were not legitimate and verifiable campaign expenditures attributable to bona fide campaign or political purposes.

The Board recommended that the Committee dismiss the above allegation concerning Rep. Huizenga because there is not substantial reason to believe that Rep. Huizenga authorized expenditures from his MRA that were not for permissible official expenses

Committee Action

On November 14, 2019, the Committee on Ethics released a statement indicating it would continue to gather information necessary to complete its review. The Committee published the OCE report and findings and announced the allegations would be further reviewed pursuant to Committee Rule 18(a).

On June 5, 2024, the Committee on Ethics released a report concluding that Rep. Huizenga's campaign had inadequate recordkeeping practices that led to a violation of clause 6 of the Code of Official Conduct. The Committee did not find that Rep. Huizenga engaged in clear personal use of campaign funds. Based on the totality of circumstances, the Committee found that Rep. Huizenga's conduct did not merit a sanction. The Committee cautioned that Members must exercise great care with respect to campaign travel expenditures and that Rep. Huizenga should have exercised more care to avoid even the appearance of improper use of campaign funds.