Since before she was even sworn in, unelected Senator Kelly Loeffler’s year in the Washington swamp has been plagued by scandal — a corrupt appointment process, a series of ethics red flags and conflicts of interest, accusations of insider trading, and more. Loeffler’s problems got worse (again) last week when she violated ethics rules and federal law by illegally soliciting campaign contributions from within a Senate building, and then was caught appearing to have falsified information on her personal financial disclosures to hide her private jet. This weekend, a new report revealed fresh details on how Loeffler played a key role marketing an offshore tax scam in the Cayman Islands to help big banks dodge federal taxes during the Great Recession.
From the very beginning, Loeffler has been caught in a “‘minefield’ of potential ethical issues.” The political mega-donor received a lucrative golden parachute from her former company, which her husband still runs, before joining the Senate — and then got herself appointed to the Senate committee overseeing regulation of her business interests. Then, Loeffler invited an onslaught of insider trading accusations after she was caught dumping millions of dollars worth of stock holdings in the days and weeks after a private, senators-only briefing on coronavirus while downplaying the severity of the pandemic to Georgians.
“In a year full of twists and turns, we could always count on Kelly Loeffler being a corrupt political mega-donor only looking out for herself and her own bottom line in Washington,” said DSCC spokesperson Helen Kalla. “Loeffler has been a walking conflict of interest since she set foot in the Senate and started entangling herself in swampy scandals and unethical conduct for her own self-serving benefit, and this month has proved to be more of the same.”
Take a look back at Loeffler’s scandal-plagued year in the swamp:
December 2019
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Loeffler to face ‘minefield’ of potential ethical issues in Senate
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Lobbying by incoming Georgia senator’s firm under scrutiny
11Alive: Who is Kelly Loeffler? The political mega-donor
POLITICO: Loeffler will cut huge check for Georgia special election
January 2020
Wall Street Journal: Senator Whose Spouse Runs Major Exchange to Help Oversee Regulator
Bloomberg: New Senator With Swaps Exchange Ties Named to Oversight Panel
CNBC: New Sen. Kelly Loeffler will help oversee agency that regulates her husband’s company
February 2020
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Potential conflicts of interest pose test for Kelly Loeffler, new Georgia senator
March 2020
Daily Beast: Sen. Kelly Loeffler Dumped Millions in Stock After Coronavirus Briefing
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Loeffler faces backlash over stock trades after coronavirus briefing
CBS News: NYSE boss sold his own stock ahead of coronavirus market meltdown
April 2020
Associated Press: Georgia Sen. Loeffler gets renewed scrutiny over stock moves
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Loeffler reports more stock sales, denies wrongdoing
Bloomberg: Georgia Senator Kelly Loeffler Sold Travel Stock Before Ban
New York Times: Loeffler’s Wealth Becomes a Risk as Rivals Charge She Profited on the Coronavirus
May 2020
New York Times: Loeffler Got Lucrative Parting Gift From Public Company en Route to the Senate
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Kelly Loeffler faces new controversy about her pre-Senate payout
McClatchy: Loeffler’s campaign hoped for a reset. But senator’s stocks came under new scrutiny
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Georgia Sen. Loeffler’s financial disclosures put her wealth on paper
June 2020
Daily Beast: Kelly Loeffler’s Fundraising Committee Takes the Prize for Tone Deafness
August 2020
September 2020
Salon: Sen. Kelly Loeffler helped big banks get offshore tax relief after the Great Recession
American Prospect: Ultra-Rich Sen. Kelly Loeffler’s Family Has Taken In $3 Million in Farm Subsidies
November 2020
Salon: Did Sen. Kelly Loeffler take advantage of a Trump tax loophole to write off campaign jet?
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Ethics complaints target Loeffler after she solicited donations in US Capitol
Campaign Legal Center: CLC Files Complaint Against Another Senator Fundraising on Capitol Grounds
Salon: Kelly Loeffler’s disclosures appear to omit the holding company that operates her private jet
Salon: Kelly Loeffler marketed derivatives during Great Recession at world’s most notorious tax haven
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