When donors give candidates money to support their candidacy, they expect such funds only to be used for campaign-related purposes or expenses related to a sitting officeholder’s official duties.
Under federal law, campaign contributions may not be used to pay for personal expenses.
When public officials violate this important law and use donor money to line their own pockets, it undermines voters’ trust in elected officials. That’s why Campaign Legal Center (CLC) calls for accountability when candidates or lawmakers use donor money to benefit their own bottom line.
On August 6, 2025, CLC filed complaints with the Office of Congressional Conduct (OCC) and Federal Election Commission (FEC), calling on those bodies to investigate whether Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson violated House rules and federal campaign finance laws by converting campaign funds to personal use.
This is just the latest example of a problem CLC has been tracking since at least 2018. Glaring loopholes in the personal use laws and poor enforcement by oversight bodies have emboldened dozens of lawmakers to spend on indulgences like luxury resorts or fine dining rather than official campaign activities — which is what their donors intended to support.
The OCC and FEC must act to uncover what truly happened and ensure that the law is equally applied to all public officials — even the most powerful members of congress.
Johnson Appears to Be Using Campaign Money to Pay His Rent
Following reporting by ProPublica that Johnson was living in the home of a major political donor, Johnson’s campaign publicly confirmed in March 2025 that the representative had moved into another home in Washington, D.C., which was owned by fellow lawmaker Rep. Darrell Issa. Issa also confirmed that arrangement, telling a reporter that Johnson was “a friend” who “needed a place.”
Since March 2025, the same month that Johnson reportedly moved into the Issa-owned house, Johnson’s principal authorized campaign committee has reported disbursing $2,500 per month, or $12,500 to date — with additional monthly payments that may be reported in future disclosure reports — for rent to a company named “Greene Properties,” wholly owned by Issa.
While candidates can use committee funds for official activities, like renting campaign office space, there is no indication that Johnson’s campaign has ever previously rented any sort of physical office in the D.C. area.
Moreover, there is no record of Johnson using his personal funds to pay rent for his D.C. residence. House members are allowed to seek reimbursement for rent paid to Washington, D.C. rentals if they are in D.C. for official business. Johnson submitted requests for reimbursement in January and February of 2025, but not after that — coinciding with the exact time he confirmed he was renting property from Issa.
It thus appears that Johnson illegally spent over $12,000 of donor money, to date, to pay his rent, given that Issa’s property company has received rent payments, and both Johnson and Issa publicly confirmed that Johnson was renting a personal residence in D.C. from Issa.
A Standout Example of a Big — and Growing — Problem
Despite federal law prohibiting the use of campaign funds for personal use — including an explicit ban on using funds for mortgage, rent or utility payments on personal property — lawmakers across the aisle have been violating this law for years.
However, Johnson appears to be the first House Speaker credibly accused of violating this law in at least 30 years.
Johnson’s apparent misuse of donors' funds is consistent with other troubling developments that suggest elected officials are becoming increasingly emboldened to prioritize their personal interests over the public good.
Whether it’s the thousands of conflicts of interests posed by Trump’s political nominees, blatant stock trading by Members of Congress, or billionaire donors awarded with government positions that advance their personal wealth, the top-down effect of a president who shirks ethics laws is on full display, exacerbating even longstanding concerns.
That is why it is critical for the OCC and FEC to launch full investigations into Johnson and, if he violated the law, hold him accountable.
Our congressional ethics rules and campaign finance laws exist to ensure that public officials do not exploit their donors or benefit themselves at everyday Americans’ expense, but we need better enforcement to make sure these laws are working correctly.
Campaign Legal Center will continue to advocate for investigations into public officials who attempt to quietly ignore the law for their personal gain. Join us today in the fight to hold our lawmakers accountable.
