Rep. Alex Mooney’s Legal Defense Fund Accepts Donation from Company at Center of Ethics Probe

The legal defense fund for U.S. Rep. Alex Mooney has accepted a donation from a company that congressional ethics investigators allege paid for a vacation for Mooney and his family to Aruba, among other gifts. The donation, totaling $5,000, was made by HSP Direct, a direct-mail company that Mooney’s campaign began using for mailers in 2020.

Mooney, a Republican from West Virginia, established the legal defense fund in December 2021 with the approval of the House Ethics Committee. The fund received over $136,000, which was used to reimburse Mooney’s federal campaign account. Mooney’s spokesperson, Ryan Kelly, stated that the congressman is complying with all required rules and disclosures for his legal defense fund.

Legal defense funds are set up by House members to cover legal expenses that occur during their time in office. These funds can only be used to reimburse legal expenses for House members and current or former staff members. Donations to legal defense funds are subject to certain restrictions, including a limit of $5,000 per calendar year from the same donor or organization.

The relationship between Mooney and HSP Direct has come under scrutiny in a report by the Office of Congressional Ethics, which led to an ongoing investigation by the House Ethics Committee. The report alleges that Mooney accepted a vacation to Aruba paid for by HSP Direct, as well as the use of a house near Capitol Hill co-owned by HSP executives for official congressional and campaign business.

Investigators believe that the value of the Aruba trip, which included chartered air travel, transportation, meals, and other expenses, exceeded $10,000. Mooney has claimed to have reimbursed HSP Direct for the entire cost of the trip, but discrepancies in the reimbursement amount have raised questions.

The investigation also revealed a close relationship between Mooney and HSP Direct executives, including donations to Mooney’s campaign and the use of HSP as a vendor for marketing and direct mail services. The House Ethics Committee is still investigating the matter, and Mooney’s campaign for U.S. Senate has already received donations from HSP Direct executives.

The unfolding scandal involving Mooney and HSP Direct highlights the complex web of relationships between lawmakers and outside entities, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest and ethical lapses. As the investigation continues, the public will be watching closely to see how Mooney’s legal defense fund and his ties to HSP Direct will impact his political future.