Did Congressman Illegally Use Congressional Funds In Run for Governor of Alabama?

A veteran of the Civil Rights movement and Birmingham minister filed formal complaints with the Alabama Attorney General’s Office and the Federal Election Commission Monday challenging Congressman Artur Davis’ misuse of congressional funds in violation of both state and federal law.

Rev. Jack Zylman filed the complaint alleging that Davis made numerous illegal and unreported expenditures from his federal congressional campaign account for the express benefit of his state gubernatorial campaign. The complaints also charge that Davis raised funds for his gubernatorial campaign in violation of state and federal law.

“I had known about Artur Davis’ blatant disregard for and violation of the law for some time, but I decided to act when I could no longer take his hypocrisy and self-dealing,” Zylman said in a statement. “Artur Davis called for Congressman Charles Rangel’s resignation when Congressman Davis himself turned a blind eye to the election laws of our state and nation. After listening to Congressman Davis criticize Congressman Rangel, I had no choice but to file these complaints.”

Davis, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, which was co-founded by Rangel, recently called for Rangel’s resignation as Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.

“Davis took $1,000 from Rangel in 2008 just to turn around and grandstand against Congressman Rangel, but did he give the money back? No,” Zylman said. “That’s hypocrisy.”

“Congressman Davis was just an infant when Congressman Rangel co-founded the Congressional Black Caucus,” Zylman continues. “Now he sits in judgment of him while, at the same time taking money from him, and ignoring the Federal Election Commission and Alabama Fair Campaign Practices Act. Artur Davis should not be above the law.”

The complaints charge that Davis failed to file his Principle Campaign Committee in accord with the time allowed by law; that Davis illegally spent funds from his federal campaign account to pay state campaign expenses; raised money for his gubernatorial campaign through his congressional campaign account in violation of the law; and that Congressman Davis failed to properly disclose his state campaign expenditures.

“I am also extremely concerned by Davis’ vote against health care,” Zylman said. “Davis disregarded the health and well-being of the citizens he currently represents in Alabama’s 7th congressional district. To watch Congressman Davis vote and speak out against a bill that would help the people of his own district and then to hear him condemn Charles Rangel while he violates the law himself was just too much for me.”

Davis has put his own political ambition above the interest of the people he represents, Zylman said, even skipping important votes and resigning from the House Judiciary Committee.

“Ever since he announced his intention to run for governor, he has changed his positions and his votes,” Zylman said. “When it comes to Artur Davis, it seems that everything is always about one thing – Artur Davis.”

The Davis campaign could not be reached for comment, because he and his staff refuse to return e-mails and phone calls from real journalists working for the Web Press, as opposed to corporate newspaper reporters and anonymous bloggers.

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Tags: Citizen Complaint Alleges Davis Violated Election Laws

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 16th, 2010 at 12:02 am and is filed under Alabama Democratic Party, Alabama Politics, Elections 2010. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.