House Democrat may have illegally pocketed thousands from lobbyist: Watchdog
Gabe Kaminsky
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A Democratic congressman’s legal defense fund appears to have unlawfully received thousands of dollars from a registered lobbyist, according to an ethics watchdog.
Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-CA) set up the fund in 2018 after being accused of sexual abuse by a young woman who dropped the lawsuit in 2019 after claiming the congressman molested and drugged her in 2007 while she was 16, documents show. But because the fund continued after the suit to accept contributions, including $5,000 in 2021 from lobbyist Catherine Pino, the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust is calling for an investigation into whether Cardenas skirted House ethics rules.
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“A legal defense fund is prohibited from accepting a contribution from a registered lobbyist, but in this case it appears that Cardenas’ legal defense fund did so,” FACT wrote in a complaint on Friday to the Office of Congressional Ethics, which refers alleged misconduct to the House Ethics Committee. “There is no doubt that Cardenas’ legal defense fund accepted Pino’s contribution at the same time she designated herself as a lobbyist.”
Members of Congress can set up legal defense funds to cover certain costs in connection to legal cases if they are approved by the Ethics Committee. These funds, however, are not allowed to take over $5,000 per year from a group or person or money from registered lobbyists, according to the committee.
The fund set up by Cardenas disbursed roughly $148,000 by the time the suit was dismissed, and the congressman’s legal bills reached about $150,000. Still, the fund received $2,000 in February 2021 from Pino, followed by a $3,000 contribution in November of that year, records show.
Pino is the founder and co-CEO of D&P Creative Strategies, a consulting firm in Washington, D.C., engaged in “inclusive and equitable advocacy.” She is listed in federal lobbying disclosures in connection to advocacy on behalf of the likes of Comcast, Microsoft, Walmart, and DoorDash.
“Prior to making the contribution to Cardenas’ legal defense fund, from 2012 to 2020, Pino was listed on numerous lobbying disclosure reports,” FACT wrote in its complaint. “During the time period that Pino made these contributions, she designated herself as a lobbyist (on both her mid-year lobbying contribution report signed on July 20, 2021 and her year end report signed on Jan. 28, 2022). Pino continues to be listed as a lobbyist today.”
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The complaint added, “The Office of Congressional Ethics is responsible for ensuring each Representative fulfills the public trust inherent in the office and that they comply with the House’s ethical standards. Therefore, we urge the Board to immediately investigate whether Representative Cardenas, though his legal defense fund, has accepted a contribution from a lobbyist in violation of the House ethics rules.”
Pino and the spokespeople for Cardenas did not reply to requests for comment.