Conservative Watchdog Group: Probe Dem Rep. Cárdenas

A conservative ethics watchdog group is calling for an investigation into Rep. Tony Cárdenas, D-Calif., for his legal defense fund allegedly accepting contributions from a registered lobbyist, which would be a violation of House rules.

The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT) announced it filed the complaint against Cardenas to the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) chief counsel Omar Ashmawy.

“A legal defense fund is barred from accepting contributions from a registered lobbyist, but in this case it appears that Rep. Cardenas’ legal defense fund did just that,” FACT Executive Director Kendra Arnold wrote in a statement to Newsmax.

“Cardenas’ legal defense fund accepted Catherine Pino’s contributions the same time she designated herself as a lobbyist. We urge the Board to immediately investigate whether Rep. Cardenas, through his legal defense fund, accepted a contribution from a registered lobbyist in violation of House Ethics rules.”

House members are permitted to create legal defense funds, but most request written permission from the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. The contributions are limited to $5,000 per year, cannot come from a registered lobbyist, and must be discontinued when the legal expense funds’ purpose ends, the complaint argued.

Cardenas set up a legal defense fund in 2018 to cover costs when Cardenas was sued for allegedly molesting a teenage girl. The lawsuit was dismissed in 2019, but Cardenas continued accepting contributions to his legal defense fund for years afterwards, FACT alleges.

According to the complaint, one contributor named “Catherine Pino” made a $2,000 contribution in February, 2021, and a $3,000 contribution in November, 2021, and those contributions were not returned.

“Pino is the founder and co-CEO of the lobbying firm D&P Strategies, which is located at the same address listed on the contribution to Cardenas’ legal defense fund,” FACT’s statement to Newsmax added. “According to prior lobbying disclosure reports, Pino identified herself as a lobbyist and continues to be listed as a lobbyist today.”