TransparencyOversight & ethics enforcement

House Ethics Committee found Rep. Bill Huizenga's campaign recordkeeping violated a House rule, found no clear personal use of campaign funds and imposed no sanction, 2024

Confidence: Confirmed · 5 sourcesMichigan · Oct 12, 2026

Subject of this story

Bill Huizenga, U.S. Representative, MI-4

Also named

Oversight

U.S. House Committee on Ethics

Office of Congressional Ethics

Federal Election Commission

What happened

On June 7, 2024, the House Committee on Ethics issued Report 118-541 closing its review of Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI). The review began with an Office of Congressional Ethics referral on August 16, 2019 about campaign-funded trips and a dinner, and about contributions from congressional staff. The Committee found that Huizenga and his staff generally acted within the bounds of the law, that each trip reviewed had an established campaign purpose, that there was no clear pattern of misspending, and that it did not find clear personal use of campaign funds. It also found the campaign's inadequate recordkeeping led to a violation of clause 6 of the House Code of Official Conduct, and that the campaign improperly accepted contributions from congressional staffers in the form of outlays it later reimbursed (the report says he and his staff were unaware such outlays were impermissible). It advised him to avoid even the appearance of improper spending. Citing his cooperation, the campaign's remedial steps and a wider need for updated guidance, it determined his conduct did not merit a sanction and closed the matter by report, updated guidance and a private letter, adopting the report unanimously. An earlier FEC complaint (MUR 7534) ended with the Commission equally divided on whether there was reason to believe he converted campaign funds to personal use, and was closed in June 2019. Huizenga's communications director Brian Patrick told Roll Call: "We are glad to have this five-year-old partisan attack finally put to rest."

Sources (5)

U.S. House Committee on Ethics, Report 118-541, In the Matter of Allegations Relating to Representative Bill Huizenga, June 7, 2024The campaign's inadequate recordkeeping practices led to a violation of clause 6 of the Code of Official Conduct; the Committee determined that Representative Huizenga's conduct did not merit a sanction.

Congress.gov, H. Rept. 118-541 (PDF)The Committee unanimously voted to adopt this Report, and take no further action. The FEC was equally divided on whether to find reason to believe a violation occurred (MUR 7534).

U.S. House Committee on Ethics, statement of the Chairman and Ranking Member regarding Representative Bill Huizenga, June 5, 2024Committee statement of June 5, 2024 releasing the report on Representative Huizenga.

Federal Election Commission, MUR 7534 (Huizenga for Congress)The Commission failed by a vote of 2-2 to find reason to believe that William P. Huizenga and Huizenga for Congress violated 52 U.S.C. 30114(b) by converting campaign funds to personal use.

Roll CallHuizenga's communications director Brian Patrick said the report takes no action against the office and recommends better guidance for all Members.

Response

Bill Huizenga

Statement given

Contacted and responded — exact wording not on record.

What happened next (0)

No outcome recorded yet.

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