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WASHINGTON — Watchdog groups have decried a rash of noncompliance among sitting members of Congress when it comes to personal financial disclosures, so it’s perhaps not shocking to see missing reports among those running for the office.
Individuals running for a U.S. House seat are required to file federal financial disclosure reports within 30 days of their campaigns raising or spending more than $5,000
Democrat Jasmine Crockett crossed that threshold in 2021, while her opponent, Republican James Rodgers, had hit it by the end of March this year. But neither of the candidates, who are running for Dallas County’s Congressional District 30, had filed the required financial reports with the House Clerk’s Office when contacted earlier this month.
They weren’t the only House candidates in Texas who hadn’t filed reports by this week, but the other non-filers are generally longshot candidates who in many cases haven’t crossed that key $5,000 fundraising mark.
Crockett, who is favored to win in the heavily Democratic 30th district, filed her report shortly after being contacted by the newspaper.
She reported between $1,000 and $15,000 worth of stock in each of three companies: Devon Energy Corp., MGM Resorts International and Moderna Inc.
In an interview, Crockett noted disclosures she previously filed as a state representative include even more information because of differences in reporting formats.
Her state disclosure covers additional assets, including relatively small holdings in pharmaceutical companies such as AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson and Bristol Myers Squibb, as well as some marijuana-related companies such as Aurora Cannabis.
She also reported small amounts of stock in companies such as Exxon Mobil Corp., which is moving its headquarters from Irving to Houston.
In the interview, she estimated her stock portfolio is worth about $19,000.
She reported just shy of $15,000 in profit from her law firm and between $15,000 and $50,000 in student loans.
Retiring Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Dallas, endorsed Crockett as her successor. Video later surfaced of a podcast in which Crockett had questioned Johnson’s length of time in office and personal wealth.
Johnson stood by her support of Crockett after the video made headlines, and Crockett said it showed she and the congresswoman aren’t in lockstep on every issue.
Rodgers still hadn’t officially filed a report by Wednesday, but his campaign said that it was in the process of doing so and that the report wouldn’t be lengthy.
“Other than some comic books and a Michael Jordan rookie card, the entirety of my wife and I’s investment portfolio is a savings account and our (Teacher Retirement System) accounts,” Rodgers said in a prepared statement.
Capitol Hill lawmakers and candidates running for Congress are required to publicly disclose personal financial information, including assets and debts.
Concerns about insider trading prompted Congress to enact even more frequent reporting requirements for those in office as part of what is commonly referred to as the STOCK Act.
In recent years, the mandated “periodic transaction reports” have tripped up some members, including Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Sherman.
The Office of Congressional Ethics documented a pattern of late filings by Fallon and called for the House Ethics Committee to further investigate.
Fallon’s attorney characterized the matter as an oversight by a freshman unfamiliar with the rules.
The Ethics Committee sided with Fallon, concluding there was nothing willful about the late filings and that he’d made diligent efforts to correct the record.
Stock holdings by members and potential conflicts of interest continue to be a simmering issue and could get renewed attention in the months ahead as congressional leaders have indicated an openness to votes on stricter requirements.
Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin, has pushed a bipartisan proposal to ban individual stock trading by members.