Tom Emmer, Minnesota GOP call for ethics investigation of Dem Rep. Angie Craig

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer and other Republican Minnesota representatives are calling for an ethics investigation into Democratic Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig for allegedly using her official office resources and staff for campaign purposes, a violation of House rules.

Throughout April, Craig has held town halls in Republican-controlled districts, prompting Emmer and his colleagues Reps. Brad Finstad, Michelle Fischbach and Pete Stauber, all of Minnesota, to send a letter to the Ethics and House Administration committees requesting they look into the funds she used. The representatives alleged the Democrat used her office resources to hold the events and one lawmaker implied via a separate statement that Craig held the town halls to bolster her potential 2026 Senate campaign.

“House Ethics rules clearly prohibit Members of Congress from using official resources to promote political events. Yet, Rep. Angie Craig used her taxpayer-funded congressional office to further her political ambitions by publicizing campaign-sponsored events and soliciting donations for political fundraising,” the Representatives wrote. “This misuse of public resources erodes the trust Americans place in their elected officials and undermines the integrity of our institutions, which is why we are calling on the House Ethics Committee and the Committee on House Administration to thoroughly review Rep. Craig’s conduct.”

Democratic Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith announced her retirement in February, and Craig has been signaling a potential Senate bid for the open seat. Other Democrats have been eyeing Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District, which Craig currently represents. Mike Norton, former Minneapolis Democratic Farmer Labor party vice chair, has formed an exploratory committee to run for Craig’s House seat in 2026. Craig is expected to announce her intentions for 2026 in late April, but her website is already full of campaign updates and donation prompts.

Stauber in particular called Craig’s town halls “political rallies” in a statement to the Star Tribune. He said Craig “has made her dream of replacing Tina Smith in the Senate abundantly clear.”

Representatives are bound to certain rules regarding campaigns and funding. They are prohibited from using official House resources, their Member Representational Allowance, congressional staff, office equipment and supplies, and official communications to bolster their campaign.

In their letter, the Minnesota House Republicans point out Craig’s April 6 social media post from her official account advertising her town halls in Republican-held districts. On April 16, Craig again advertised her town halls, but through a post from her campaign social media account, thus conflating her position as Congresswoman and a bid for higher office with the town halls.

“These ‘town halls’ which were initially published and promoted through Rep. Angie Craig’s official office are now directing people to Rep. Angie Craig’s political campaign website and soliciting support for her political campaign,” the Representatives wrote.

Finstad called Craig’s town halls “political theater” in a statement to the publication, saying, “Southern Minnesota has rejected the Walz-Craig agenda, and they aren’t falling for her political theater while she works against their interests when in Washington.”

Alex Pelchash, Chairman of the Minnesota Republican Party, told the Daily Caller News Foundation that, if true, Craig’s actions are a part of a “culture of corruption.”

“We applaud Rep. Brad Finstad, Rep. Tom Emmer, and the rest of Minnesota’s Republican delegation for stepping up and demanding accountability from Rep. Angie Craig,” Pelchash said. “The use of taxpayer dollars and House resources to boost her political campaign — if proven true — is a clear abuse of power and part of a broader culture of corruption that has infected DFL leadership at every level.”

“House Ethics rules are very clear and prohibit Members from using taxpayer funds to further their political ambitions. Still, Angie Craig potentially violated these rules and turned her back on her constituents by taking Democrats’ failed agenda on tour throughout our state,” Emmer told the DCNF. “Thankfully, our constituents see through this charade and rejected these ideas at the polls last November. If she is so desperate to run for Senate, she should stop this nonsense, declare her intention to run, and stop using her official office to promote her campaign events.”

“Minnesotans are paying attention. They see the corruption. They see the ambition. And this election cycle, they’ll have the chance to retire Angie Craig, Peggy Flanagan, and Tim Walz once and for all,” Pelchash said. “The Minnesota GOP will continue fighting for transparency, accountability, and leadership that actually puts our state first.”

Craig did not respond to the DCNF’s request for comment.

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