Dan Kildee Pays Wealthy Donor Nearly $200K in Taxpayer Funds
Michigan Dem scores deal to rent luxury office space from campaign donor
Getty Images Joseph Simonson • October 5, 2022 5:00 am
A Michigan Democrat has paid nearly $200,000 in taxpayer funds to a campaign donor for luxury office space, a relationship that ethics experts say raises uncomfortable questions.
Rep. Dan Kildee, who represents Michigan’s fifth district, was first elected in 2012. Since 2019, he has rented office space in the Dryden Building, a luxury property in Flint, Mich., owned by Phil and Jocelyn Hagemen. House records show Kildee spending roughly $12,000 to nearly $15,000 a quarter on the office space, which boasts exposed brick and marble window sills.
The Hagemens have donated nearly $7,000 to Kildee’s House campaigns since 2012, public campaign finance documents show.
The arrangement appears to violate House rules, which indicate that House members must not enter into a leasing agreement with anyone with whom they “have had, or continue to have, a professional or legal relationship.” At the very least, government corruption watchdog and executive director for the Foundation for Accountability and Civil Trust Kendra Arnold told the Washington Free Beacon, voters in Kildee’s district ought to know how he’s spending their money.
“It may fall into the category of where it is not a wise thing to do, or something that constituents may not approve of because of the relationship,” Foundation for Accountability and Civil Trust executive director Kendra Arnold told the Washington Free Beacon. “The Federal Elections Commission is not looking at these disclosures closely, they’re just looking to see if there are any major red flags, like if numbers don’t add up. They do not examine each individual expenditure. The real oversight comes from the public.”
Kildee has avoided scrutiny over his personal dealings over the years due to his district voting overwhelmingly Democrat in previous election cycles. Redistricting, however, has forced him into a tight race against Republican and former Trump administration official Paul Junge.
Kildee, who did not respond to a request for comment, also seemed to receive a sweetheart deal for his office.
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