Formal complaints filed in Tom Reed tax case

Formal complaints were filed with federal officials today regarding Congressman Tom Reed’s illegal use of campaign funds to pay his personal property taxes. Two separate complaints were filed with the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ethics as well as with the Federal Election Commission requesting both entities to investigate Congressman Reed’s violations of the federal election law and House ethics rules.Ontario County Democratic Committee Chairman John F. Hurley said, “Today we filed two complaints with federal officials requesting that they investigate Congressman Tom Reed’s illegal use of campaign funds to pay his personal property taxes. Congressman Reed’s completely inappropriate use of campaign funds needs to be investigated and we hope the House Ethics Committee and the Federal Elections Commission will get to the bottom of this extremely concerning situation. No excuses or apologies can change the fact that Members of Congress have an ethical responsibility and legal obligation to keep their personal funds separate from their campaign funds and Congressman Reed violated these rules. Congressman Reed’s conduct has repeatedly proven that he can’t be trusted and I hope that a federal investigation will provide the voters some answers and clarity about what happened.”In August Congressman Reed admitted to paying his personal property taxes late 38 times since 2005. Several weeks later Congressman Reed admitted to illegally making one of those late tax payments using campaign funds. Congressman Reed made a $4,247.83 late tax payment to the Steuben County treasurer for property taxes on his vacation home on Keuka Lake using campaign funds which is a violation of federal election law.