Meeks disclosed the $40,000 personal loan from businessman Ed Ahmad in his 2009 financial disclosure report. The Congressman reported the loan with a value of $50,000 to $100,000 on his disclosure form and revealed in an amendment that he first received the “interest-only personal loan” in 2007. He had not previously reported the funds, which he noted in another amendment to his financial disclosures in 2010 that he has repaid in full.
The OCE, which reviews potential rules violations and refers investigations to the House Ethics Committee, does not comment on its work. It is not known whether the OCE reviewed the loan.
NLPC called on the House Ethics Committee to review Meeks’ purchase of a new home in 2006, asserting that Meeks did not pay for the full value of the home, which was built by a local developer and campaign contributor.
Meeks has denied wrongdoing, telling the New York Times in 2010: “I live like most of the people in my district, paycheck to paycheck. ... Whatever I had I put into this house so I could have a decent place to live.”
Members are paid a $174,000 salary, according to the Clerk of the House.
According to records compiled by CQ MoneyLine, Meeks’ re-election campaign spent nearly $245,000 on legal services in the 2009-10 cycle.
Lois Lerner, director of exempt organizations for the IRS, arrives for a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on the investigation of the IRS' targeting of political groups. Lerner invoked her Fifth Amendment right to not testify and caused a protest from some committee members when she offered an opening statement and engaged in dialogue with members before invoking the right.
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