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    Misconduct in the 113th Congress (2013-2014)

    From Ballotpedia - Reading time: 8 min

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    Ballotpedia tracked noteworthy cases of alleged misconduct by members of the 113th Congress, from 2013 to 2014.

    Portal:Legislative Branch

    Misconduct is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as "[u]nacceptable or improper [behavior], especially by an employee or professional person."[1] Misconduct can be a criminal act or a non-criminal act that is generally considered improper, such as having an extramarital affair or verbally abusing employees.

    The sections below detail different instances of alleged misconduct. Misconduct on this page includes the following:

    • Sexual assault and harassment — Includes allegations of non-consensual sexual encounters.
    • Sexual affairs — Includes allegations of consensual sexual encounters such as extramarital affairs or improper relationships.
    • Criminal misconduct — Includes allegations of criminal misconduct that did not involve a non-consensual sexual encounter.
    • Professional misconduct — Includes allegations of workplace misconduct that did not rise to the level of criminal culpability or involve a non-consensual sexual encounter.

    Trey Radel (R-Fla.)[edit]

    See also: Trey Radel

    According to court reports, Radel bought $260 worth of cocaine from an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration agent in October 2013.[2]

    Radel was arrested in the District of Columbia on October 29, 2013, for possession of cocaine. Following his arrest, Radel said it was due to struggles with alcoholism. "This led to an extremely irresponsible choice. Believe me I am disappointed in myself, and I stand ready to face the consequences of my actions...However, this unfortunate event does have a positive side: It offers me an opportunity to seek treatment and counseling," he said, requesting prayers for his family. "As the father of a young son and a husband to a loving wife, I need to get help so I can be a better man for both of them," Radel added.[3]

    Radel was charged on November 19, 2013, in D.C. Superior Court with misdemeanor possession of cocaine. He appeared in court on November 20, 2013.[4][5] He pleaded guilty on November 20, 2013, to misdemeanor cocaine possession and was sentenced to one year of supervised probation and fined $250.[2][2] Radel also entered an in-patient rehabiliation program in Florida.[2]

    On January 27, 2014, Radel announced his resignation from Congress.[6][7] A special election was held for Radel's seat following his resignation.[8][9]

    Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.)[edit]

    See also: Jesse Jackson Jr.

    The FBI first initiated a probe in 2012 regarding activities involving Jackson's finances related to his seat in Illinois' 2nd Congressional District, including inappropriate expenditures. The investigation, along with Jackson's continued absence from campaigning in 2012, caused speculation as to why.[10]

    The Justice Department filed fraud and conspiracy charges on February 15, 2013 against Jackson, saying that he used about $750,000 in campaign money for personal expenses.[11] He agreed to plead guilty to the charges.[11][12] Jackson’s wife, Sandra Stevens, was also charged with one count of filing false tax returns. According to court documents, Jackson used the campaign money to buy memorabilia related to Bruce Lee, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Jimi Hendrix, a mink parka, and a Michael Jackson fedora and cashmere capes.[11][12]

    Jackson said in a statement at his sentencing, “I misled the American people, I misled the House of Representatives. I was wrong and I do not fault anyone.[13] Jackson reported to Butner Correctional Center on October 29, 2013, to serve a 30-month prison sentence.[14]

    A special election was held for Jackson's seat after he was forced to resign.[12][15]

    Vance McAllister (R-La.)[edit]

    See also: Vance McAllister

    On April 7, 2014, video surfaced of McAllister kissing a staffer, who was also a close family friend, at McAllister's district office headquarters.[16][17] McAllister said he would involve the FBI to determine who stole the security tape from the office.[18]

    Republican leadership called on McAllister to resign, but he refused. He decided not to run for re-election in 2014.[19]

    Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.)[edit]

    See also: Michael Grimm

    Shortly after the filing deadline for New York's 2014 Congressional election, Grimm was indicted on 20 counts for violations involving his health food restaurant, "Healthalicious."[20]
    The charges included under-reporting income to evade taxes, "conspiracy, obstruction, mail fraud, perjury and the unlawful employment of illegal immigrants."[21] Grimm was also investigated for campaign finance law violations involving Israeli rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto.

    Grimm's attorney, William McGinley, said, "the government has pursued a politically driven vendetta against Congressman Grimm" and "when the dust settles, he will be vindicated."[22]

    Grimm said that he would not resign, and that he would continue campaigning for re-election.[23]

    See also[edit]

    Footnotes[edit]

    1. ↑ Oxford Dictionary, "Definition of misconduct in English," accessed June 21, 2018
    2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 NPR.org, "Florida Congressman Pleads Guilty To Cocaine Possession," accessed November 20, 2013
    3. ↑ Lawyer Herald, "Rep. Trey Radel: Florida Congressman Speaks Out After October Arrest For Cocaine Possession Misdemeanor," accessed November 20, 2013
    4. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named cocaine
    5. ↑ Yahoo.com, "Fla. congressman facing cocaine possession charge," accessed November 20, 2013
    6. ↑ Politico, "Trey Radel to resign House seat," accessed January 27, 2014
    7. ↑ NY Daily News, "Trey Radel to resign from Congress after cocaine scandal," accessed January 27, 2014
    8. ↑ Politico, "Trey Radel to resign House seat," accessed January 27, 2014
    9. ↑ NY Daily News, "Trey Radel to resign from Congress after cocaine scandal," accessed January 27, 2014
    10. ↑ Chicago Sun-Times, "Feds probe ‘suspicious activity’ in Jesse Jackson Jr.’s finances: sources," October 12, 2012
    11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 New York Times, "Jesse Jackson Jr. Charged in Misuse of Campaign Money," accessed February 15, 2013
    12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Politico, "Feds: 4 years in prison for ex-Rep. Jackson Jr.," accessed June 7, 2013
    13. ↑ Washington Post, "Jesse L. Jackson Jr. sentenced to 30 months in prison," accessed August 14, 2013
    14. ↑ WRAL, "Ex-congressman reports to North Carolina prison," accessed October 29, 2013
    15. ↑ CBS Chicago, "Former U.S. Prosecutor Negotiating Plea Deal For Jackson Jr.," November 9, 2012
    16. ↑ Politico, "Report: Video shows Vance McAllister kissing staffer," accessed April 7, 2014
    17. ↑ The Ouachita Citizen, "VIDEO: Rep. Vance McAllister in extramarital embrace," accessed April 8, 2014
    18. ↑ The News Star, "McAllister to ask for FBI probe on leaked video," accessed April 9, 2014
    19. ↑ NY Daily News, "Smooching Congressman Vance McAllister won't run for re-election," accessed April 28, 2014
    20. ↑ Amazon S3, "Indictment Against Michael Grimm," accessed May 28, 2014
    21. ↑ USA Today, "N.Y. Rep. Grimm indicted on tax fraud charges," accessed May 28, 2014
    22. ↑ Politico, "Michael Grimm expected to be indicted," accessed May 28, 2014
    23. ↑ BuzzFeed Politics, "Michael Grimm Says He’s Not Resigning After Indictment, Vows To Win Reelection," accessed April 29, 2014
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