Ethics report scrutinizes Hagedorn

U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn is continuing to face scrutiny with a report from the Office of Congressional Ethics detailing possible violations tied to spending on taxpayer-funded constituent mailings and an allegation involving campaign office space.

The report, sent to the House Committee on Ethics earlier this year but made public Thursday, said it had "uncovered evidence that shows Rep. Hagedorn knew or should have known that there were irregularities in his franked mail practices, including unusually high spending, above fair market prices, and potential financial conflicts of interest" involving two staffers in his office at the time.

The companies linked to the staffers were found to have been paid a total of around $453,000 by Hagedorn's office starting in 2019 to April of last year, according to the report.

The ethics office's board also found "there is substantial reason to believe that Rep. Hagedorn used official funds to contract for services with companies owned or controlled by his staff members."

A joint statement from the bipartisan leaders of the House ethics committee that came with the report's public release said "the mere fact of conducting further review of a referral, and any mandatory disclosure of such further review, does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred, or reflect any judgment on behalf of the Committee."

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https://www.startribune.com/ethics-report-scrutinizes-hagedorn/600109026/