The FBI on Friday tapped Rep. Andy Ogles of the US as part of an investigation that he believes is related to his campaign finance reports,” the new congressman said in a social media post Tuesday afternoon.
“It has been reported for months that my campaign made mistakes in our preliminary financial statements,” Ogles said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. “We have worked diligently with lawyers and reporting experts to correct the errors and ensure that they are followed forward. It is my understanding that they are investigating the same known facts about these files. “
Ogles’ phone call came one day after he survived a primary election challenge last week. The congressman faces ongoing scrutiny over his federal campaign finance reports, and personal financial disclosures.
Ogles is seeking re-election in Tennessee’s 5th district this year, with the endorsement of former President Donald Trump. Ogles defeated a well-funded primary challenge from Republican Courtney Johnston on Thursday evening, who challenged Ogles’ credibility and first-term record. The US Department of Justice usually does not take excessive investigative measures against political candidates who could influence the way people vote within 60 days of the election.
Elizabeth Clement-Webb, a spokeswoman for the FBI’s Memphis Field Office, declined to confirm or deny the investigation, in accordance with US Justice Department policy.
Mark Wildasin, a spokesman for the US District Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee, declined to confirm or deny the existence of a search warrant.
Ogles’ congressional office did not respond to a request for comment. His chief of staff directed The Tennessean to Ogles’ social media post.
Channel 5 reported earlier Tuesday that the FBI had executed a search warrant for Ogles but did not specify where the search took place or what was investigated.
For more than two years, Ogles has faced numerous complaints and complaints about his state campaign finance disclosures.
Shortly before the 2022 primary election, a Federal Election Commission complaint was filed against him alleging a “pattern of misconduct” in Ogles’ financial dealings. An attorney for Ogles responded to a request for comment with a threat of legal action.
He also had to deal with chronic problems stemming from his campaign finance disclosures. He had to pay $5,750 in local fines for campaign finance violations after the 2022 cycle, Nashville Scene previously reported.
He recently admitted that his $320,000 loan that he had reported as cash to the FEC over two years was actually a “liability” for funds that the need never arose. .
“We put the money aside. It was in a joint account, which you can’t do – we know that now – so technically we have to go back and say this campaign didn’t have total control,” Ogles said. “But that being said, when my wife and I decided to run for Congress, we put aside every penny we had to put into the race.”
Ogles’ financial disclosures do not show a savings or checking account under Ogles’ control with the money he claimed to have received from his campaign. But his announcement includes a loan that started in January 2022 with the same amount. Maury County property records do not show a January 2022 property purchase by Ogles. But he bought a house next door to his family in September, just after winning the primary. He later sold the house to his congressional district director at a loss of $60,000.
“The money was real, it was there, and it was ready to be spent. Fortunately, we didn’t have to spend it,” Ogles said during a recent interview. of radio. “That was money that we had saved up over time. It was a big commitment. We all went in… We felt this was a God thing. .”
Ogles has said publicly that he has hired an outside campaign finance consultant to go back “with a fine-toothed comb” and correct the errors reported to the FEC.
In his social media post on Tuesday, Ogles said he would cooperate with the FBI and the FEC.
He wrote: “I hope all concerned will come to the conclusion that the discrepancies in the report are based on honest mistakes, nothing more.
Ogles is also currently facing an ethics complaint filed by the Campaign Legal Center in January that calls for an investigation into discrepancies in the congressman’s financial disclosures, including a $320,000 personal loan.
Law Center Ethics Campaign Director Kedric Payne on Tuesday said the watchdog group expects an FBI investigation because Ogles had significant discrepancies in his financial statements, but swift action it’s amazing.
Payne, a former deputy general counsel for the Office of Congressional Ethics, said such investigations often take a long time.
“With this process so quickly, the evidence must be strong, especially moving in an election year,” he said. “It seems like what we were complaining about is the tip of the iceberg. It looks very dangerous.”
Ogles also admitted that he was “wrong” about which degree he received from Middle Tennessee State University, after reviewing that he embellished his qualifications and work experience during the 2022 elementary school .
Staff writer Kelly Puente contributed to this report.
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