Should Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) be able to question the Capitol Police? After all, they helped gin up the rioters during the January 6 failed coup. Not only did Cruz try to help throw over our democracy for Donald Trump’s nihilism, he reached into his campaign donations cookie jar and just helped himself.
Of course, he angered Texans when he jetted down to Cancun for a little fun in the sun as his constituents were literally freezing to death in the worse snowstorm/cold weather stretch in a century. But did hire a securiity guard/dog sitter to watch his home sans electriticy. We saw the little dog Snowflake standing forelornly at Senator Cruz’s front door.
But guess how he paid for this necessity. That is right. He used campaign dollars. Imagine that. This immediately sent a hot flare to the Federal Elections Committee (FEC), which does not sanction such payments for security. Oh, but it gets better.
Attorneys for the National Republican Senatorial Committee and National Republican Congressional Committee pointed toward the unsettling jump in security threats linked to the January 6 insurrection. This was used to give it an emergency status and gain FEC credibility. These committees wrote, according to The Salon:
‘In light of current events involving concrete threats of physical violence against Members and their families, Members have been compelled to consider further security measures for themselves and their families.’
‘As has been well-documented in the media, Members and their families continue to endure threats and security breaches, which are being timely reported to appropriate law enforcement officials.’
Cruz was, according to The Houston Chronicle:
‘[Among the] most ardent peddlers of former President Trump’s baseless claims of election fraud, a leading voice in a broader narrative that led directly to the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol by a mob of Trump supporters. Cruz was inside the Senate chamber when that attack began, objecting to Electoral College votes, and used the event to raise campaign funds.’
Cruz released this statement:
‘With school canceled for the week, our girls asked to take a trip with friends. Wanting to be a good dad, I flew down with them last night and am flying back this afternoon. My staff and I are in constant communication with state and local leaders to get to the bottom of what happened in Texas. We want our power back, our water on, and our homes warm. My team and I will continue using all our resources to keep Texans informed and safe.’
The Texas senator dipped into both his campaign funds and his taxpayer-backed Senate allowance for security expenses. Some of his expenses were related to travel.
Republican politicians apparently believe they can pull a no-pay Trump. Former Secretary of State and presidential hopeful Mike Pompeo set off an investigation. He misused of taxpayer funds to pay for an aide to walk his dog:
‘The FEC bars candidates and elected officials from using political contributions for their own personal use, and Cruz may have violated this rule if he used donations to pay for a security guard for his Houston home or at other times outside his capacities as a candidate or officeholder.’
‘It would also appear to be a violation of the personal use prohibition if Cruz dipped into his campaign account to pay the guard to do household chores, such as caring for Snowflake. ‘
Cruz also used his campaign for:
- ‘more than $15,000 in the last four months on what it characterizes in filings as “security equipment installation”
- ‘$11,000 to Houston-based Automation Media Professionals
- ‘4,000 to Solar X Window Film Systems for “tear and penetration-resistant” protective window film designed to hold “glass fragments together in the event of an accident, break-in or violent storm”
- ‘paid his former bodyguard out of his campaign and Senate accounts
- ‘$5,000 payment to Air France for “security expenses”
- ‘$46,000 to the Atlas Gin Security firm “personnel service/equipment” from October through December last year.
- ‘Special Operations Advisor to the U.S. Senate Matthew “Grant” Murray, who works in Cruz’s Senate office. He made six figures last year, LegiStorm indicated plus $10,000 for travel and per diem costs.
- ‘more than $3,000 to Murray, apparently for providing security for Cruz while he was traveling.’
The Mueller Report Adventures: In Bite-Sizes on this Facebook page. These quick, two-minute reads interpret the report in normal English for busy people. Mueller Bite-Sizes uncovers what is essentially a compelling spy mystery. Interestingly enough, Mueller Bite-Sizes can be read in any order.
