Yvette AlexanderThis afternoon, the District’s Office of Campaign Finance released the results of an investigation into allegedly improper campaign spending by D.C. Councilmember Yvette Alexander (D-Ward 7). The report found that Alexander did use her constituent services fund to fund her reelection campaign, but cleared her of other charges.
“The complaint alleged, among other things, inappropriate use of constituent services funds; failure to comply with reporting requirements; acceptance of a reduced rental rate to influence official government action; and use of D.C. government employees during normal work hours for campaign purposes,” read a statement released by OCF this afternoon. “OCF did not find that Councilmember Alexander committed any of the enumerated violations.”
Alexander was, however, found to have improperly spent around $5,000 from her constituent fund, and failing to report all in-kind expenditures on quarterly reports. For those violations, OCF levied a fine of $4,000 against the Councilmember.
The report clarifies that accusations that Alexander engaged in a quid quo pro relationship — in which former D.C. Councilmember H.R. Crawford gave Alexander a break on rent in exchange for favorable legislative treatment — could not be substantiated. It also notes that most of the expenditures investigated were for legitimate purposes, like food for community meetings and plaques for high school valedictorians.
While it’s nothing to simply brush under the rug, Alexander’s transgressions pale in comparison to those recently committed by Harry Thomas, Jr. (D-Ward 5) — although we’d fully expect the Councilmember to have to answer questions about the spending from the local Republican Party and during her reelection campaign, which has already begun.
The complete OCF report can be read below:
