Calvert Draws Fire from Campaign Committee

Rep. Ken Calvert draws fire from Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

Just days after being sworn into the 118th Congress, Ken Calvert, a 30-year veteran in Congress, has drawn fire from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

The Committe’s ire stems from Calvert voting in favor of House Republicans’ rule changes that would gut the Office of Congressional Ethics, which is intended to be a nonpartisan, independent body charged with reviewing allegations of misconduct against House lawmakers and staff.

This comes at a time when Calvert’s own GOP colleagues, like George Santos and David Schweikert have been under investigation for misconduct and shady finance violations. As a reminder, the Committee points out, Calvert was labeled one of the most corrupt Members of Congress.

In 2017, House Republicans, which included Ken Calvert, similarly used the rules package to gut the Office of Congressional Ethics.

DCCC spokesperson Tommy Garcia said, “Rather than allow the Office of Congressional Ethics to continue its tradition of holding both parties accountable as a nonpartisan and independent body, Ken Calvert voted to politicize the body that ensures congressional members like themselves face consequences when they fail to act ethically and in accordance with the law. If Calvert isn’t voting this way to protect himself, who is he voting to protect?”

Jason Gagnon, a spokesperson for Calvert’s office, offered the following statement from Calvert: “The changes in the Rules package bring more accountability to the Office of Congressional Ethics and ensure its board is more engaged with the staff. No changes were made to its ability to refer matters to the House Ethics Committee. The Republican Rules package also paves the way, for the first time, for the public to be able to submit ethics complaints directly to the House Ethics Committee. I have and continue to believe House members should hold themselves to the highest ethical standards, as I have done during my career as a public servant.”

Calvert’s 41st Congressional District includes Canyon Lake, Indian Wells, Lake Elsinore, La Quinta, Menifee, Norco, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Wildomar, and portions of Corona, Eastvale and Riverside.