Rep. Nunes' Multi-Million Dollar Lawsuits Against Media Potentially Violate House Ethics Rule

[fleur-de-lisa]

Source: Campaign Legal Center

Campaign Legal Center (CLC) is calling for an investigation into whether U.S. Representative Devin Nunes is receiving legal services in violation of House ethics rules. Nunes has sued media organizations in multiple lawsuits for nearly $1 billion, but he has not disclosed any of the required public reports necessary to establish that he has properly paid for the extensive legal services. Instead, he appears to have received free legal services in violation of House rules.

Attorney Steven Biss filed the original lawsuits on Nunes’s behalf in 2019, alleging that various media organizations and individuals made defamatory statements about him. These organizations include Twitter Inc., McClatchy, CNN and Politico. However, there are no legal expense fund or campaign finance reports from 2019 or 2020 that list any payments to Biss.

House rules prohibit members from receiving discounted or free legal services because this would be treated as a gift, similar to how members are prohibited from receiving discounted or free home renovation services. Tweetable quote:The principle is that members cannot receive anything of significant value that could cause a potential conflict of interest, such as a special interest group paying for legal services.Tweet this quote. To expose any potential conflicts arising from the receipt of legal services, House rules require disclosure.

Nunes can only accept free legal services as donations to a legal expense fund. He is also allowed to use campaign funds to pay for the legal expenses. Either way, the receipt of legal services should have been disclosed. In the absence of the disclosures, it seems likely that Nunes is receiving free legal services in violation of House rules.

Read more: https://campaignlegal.org/update/rep-nunes-multi-million-dollar-lawsuits-against-media-potentially-violate-house-ethics-rule

[Backseat Driver]

1. IOIYAR, no?

[Kali]

2. Nunes' fucking existence is unethical

[Perseus]

4. Good one, and true...LOL

[safeinOhio]

3. Might want to hire

a real lawyer....just saying....

[johnnyfins]

5. Whatever. His master is getting away with extortion and a whole lot worse

What do you think this will matter?

[riversedge]

6. Fresno Bee: Group asks Congress to investigate how Devin Nunes is paying for his lawsuits

Group asks Congress to investigate how Devin Nunes is paying for his lawsuits

https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article240651532.html


By Kate Irby February 26, 2020 08:19 AM

Who is Devin Nunes suing?


Who is Devin Nunes suing? https://www.sacbee.com/news/article239733468.html

Republican Rep. Devin Nunes has filed six lawsuits against media companies, activists and the investigative research firm behind the Steele Dossier. He alleges they cospired against his re-election and harmed his reputation. By Alyssa Hodenfield
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Republican Rep. Devin Nunes has filed six lawsuits against media companies, activists and the investigative research firm behind the Steele Dossier. He alleges they cospired against his re-election and harmed his reputation. By Alyssa Hodenfield
WASHINGTON

A nonpartisan watchdog group filed an ethics complaint against Rep. Devin Nunes Wednesday, calling for a congressional investigation into how the California Republican is paying for his lawsuits against media companies and critics.

Nunes, R-Tulare, with Virginia attorney Steven Biss filed six lawsuits and sent two letters implying possible legal action in 2019. He has not disclosed how he is paying for the legal work, and the kind of lawsuits he is filing — alleging defamation and conspiracies against him — can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Nunes filed the first case in March 2019 against Twitter, a Republican political strategist and two anonymous social media accounts that mock him. In his most recent lawsuit, filed in December, Nunes alleges CNN published a “demonstrably false hit piece” when it reported a story based on information from an attorney representing one of Rudy Giuliani’s associates...............................

....................The group also questions whether a contingency fee would explain all of Nunes’ legal costs associated with Biss because of two letters Biss has sent to Nunes’ critics without filing lawsuits. Those letters were sent to Nunes’ 2018 political opponent Andrew Janz and California Rep. Ted Lieu, telling them to apologize for critical statements about Nunes.

“Mr. Biss sent a letter to Representative Lieu threatening to bring an ethics complaint against him,” the complaint reads. “An ethics complaint will not result in a monetary award that could support payment under a contingency fee agreement.”......................................................

Read more here: https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article240651532.html#storylink=cpy


Read more here: https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article240651532.html#storylink=cpy

[riversedge]

7. umm. he does have support........

Link to tweet

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