COTO DE CAZA – A formal ethics complaint has been filed against Representative Young Kim (CA-40), alleging the misuse of official House resources for political campaign purposes. The complaint, submitted by Chino Hills resident Terri Miller to the House Ethics Committee, outlines violations regarding mass mail communications that have been reportedly political in nature and financed with taxpayer funds, in direct violation of House rules.
The complaint identifies two significant infractions. The first concerns the use of official funds for campaign-related communications. House rules stipulate that official resources must be used solely for official business, explicitly prohibiting the use of government funds for political campaign purposes. According to the complaint, Republican Representative Young Kim distributed six mailers, paid for by Official House funds, that contain political messaging aimed at influencing voters rather than providing necessary updates or resources to constituents. The mailers are alleged to have crossed the line from informational updates into political strategy, convoluting the distinction between official communications and campaign materials.
The second violation pertains to the 90-day ban on unsolicited mass communications. House rules prohibit members from sending unsolicited communications using official funds within 90 days of an election in which the member is on the ballot. The complaint alleges that Republican Representative Young Kim violated this rule by sending mass mailers on the following dates: August 25, August 27, September 4, and September 6, 2024 – all within the 90-day window of August 7, 2024. The complaint states that these mailers reached households throughout the district and contained no useful information on public resources, focusing solely on campaign messaging.
The complaint additionally notes that this is not the first instance of alleged violations by Republican Representative Young Kim, accusing her of a pattern of abusing House rules and forcing taxpayers to bear the costs of her political campaigns.
This complaint comes in the wake of Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do’s recent indictment for embezzlement and the misuse of COVID relief funds. Young Kim and Andrew Do have long-standing ties as elected officials in Orange County, frequently endorsing each other’s campaigns in the past. The parallels raise significant concerns about the misuse of public, taxpayer funded resources by elected Republican officials in Southern California, underscoring the need for increased transparency and accountability in all levels of government. The mutual support between Kim and Do in their political careers add another layer of scrutiny, prompting further questions about the ethics of leadership in the region.
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I got 3 of these last week! Two the same day!
So my step daughter and I are registered NPP (No Party Preference). We live in Rancho Santa Margarita. Both she and I received all of these mailers in the time period stated in the article. However my wife is registered Democrat did not receive any of these mailers. I wonder if Terri Miller has checked into that because if she is targeting just certain registered voters rather than her entire constituency that should also prove these were political in nature.
House rules have a 60-day ban on unsolicited mass communications, not 90 days.
https://cha.house.gov/blackout-dates
“The General Election Blackout for Members, Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner begins September 6, 2024.”
Well as much as Drunk Vern and Grifter Greg hate Joe Kerr (along with disgraced public employee turned finger painter Dave Zunger) I would expect a full throated defense. Oh wait the OJB HATES Asians!
My husband and I both have received those emails. We are both registered Democrats.
They’re still coming. We need her gone.
9/23/24