Full Report On Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)
Report Exhibits
News Stories
- Complaint against Marsha Blackburn dismissed
February 13, 2009 - Blackburn wins re-election
November 5, 2008 - Troubled Lenders Give Money To Legislators
October 15, 2008 - Energy, economy top issues for Blackburn and Morris
October 12, 2008 - Marsha, Marsha!
September 18, 2008 - Blackburn added to 'most corrupt' in Congress list
September 11, 2008
The 20 most corrupt members of Congress
- Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL)
- Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA)
- Rep. John T. Doolittle (R-CA)
- Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL)
- Rep. Vito J. Fossella (R-NY)
- Rep. William J. Jefferson (D-LA)
- Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
- Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA)
- Rep. Daniel Lipinski (D-IL)
- Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
- Rep. Gary G. Miller (R-CA)
- Rep. Alan B. Mollohan (D-WV)
- Rep. Timothy F. Murphy (R-PA)
- Rep. John P. Murtha (D-PA)
- Rep. Steve Pearce (R-NM)
- Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-NY)
- Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ)
- Rep. Harold Rogers (R-KY)
- Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK)
- Rep. Don Young (R-AK)
Dishonorable mentions
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Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)
Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) is a third-term member of Congress representing Tennessee’s 7th congressional district. Her ethics issues stem from her repeated failure to properly report campaign receipts and expenditures, including payments made to a family owned business.
Unreported Campaign Expenses/Contributions
In April of 2008, Rep. Blackburn announced that her campaign committee had discovered errors in their reporting extending back six years. The committee failed to report $286,278 in expenditures, including $18,821 paid to a firm owned by her daughter and son-in-law. The campaign also failed to report $102,044 in contributions. Additionally, the campaign had misreported over $52,025 in campaign contributions and disbursements.
Rep. Blackburn’s campaign committee has had a pattern of erroneous reporting. During Rep. Blackburn’s first three campaigns, the FEC sent 33 letters pointing out 90 possible errors in the committee’s reports. In 2005, the FEC investigated the campaign committee for major reporting discrepancies - including failing to report a 2004 contribution from Friends of Duke Cunningham, the former committee for the now imprisoned ex-congressman. The matter was eventually resolved with the campaign committee paying a $1,500 fine and the committee treasurer agreeing to attend an FEC compliance seminar.
After the 2005 FEC enforcement case, Rep. Blackburn hired election lawyer Donald McGahn to conduct an internal audit. Following the audit, Rep. Blackburn’s campaign committee filed amendments for all 32 reports it has submitted to the FEC.
By failing to properly report contributions and expenditures to the FEC, including payments made to a business owned by her daughter and son-in-law, Rep. Blackburn’s campaign committee violated campaign finance laws. In addition, by failing to disclose the contribution from Friends of Cunningham after signing a settlement agreement claiming that all previously submitted information was true and correct, the treasurer of the campaign committee may have committed perjury.
