A new ProPublica investigation uncovered a fresh set of potential new ethics violations for corrupt Washington politician Senator David Perdue. Perdue sold his D.C. townhouse in an off market deal to a finance industry official whose organization, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), falls under the jurisdiction of Perdue’s Banking Committee. ProPublica found that the off market deal raises “serious suspicions as to whether the sale was in fact at fair market value” and multiple local real estate experts agree “that the almost $1.8 million sale price Perdue garnered seemed high.”
Perdue made the off market deal around the same time FINRA was lobbying the Senate about a bill being considered by the Senate Banking Committee. ProPublica notes that “ethics experts are generally troubled when politicians enter into transactions with people who have business before them.” If Perdue’s off market sale was above fair market value, he would be required under Senate Ethics rules to disclose it as a gift. Notably, “Perdue did not disclose any such gifts” and his office “declined to say” if he notified the Senate Ethics Committee prior to the sale. One ethics expert called the deal a potential “violation of his ethical obligations and an opportunity for those with business pending before Perdue’s committee to curry favor.”
The bombshell report follows weeks of continued scrutiny over Senator Perdue’s prolific self-dealing and favors to his special interest donors that have raised questions about the ultra-wealthy corporate insider’s conflicts of interests and suspiciously well-timed stock trading.
“This new report is just the latest in a seemingly never-ending series highlighting Senator Perdue’s ethical conflicts of interest in Washington,” said DSCC spokesperson Shea Necheles. “Time and time again, Perdue has shown Georgians he is nothing but a corrupt politician who abuses his office for shady self-dealing and crooked behavior.”
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
ProPublica: Sen. David Perdue Sold His Home to a Finance Industry Official Whose Organization Was Lobbying the Senate
By Robert Faturechi
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