Misused public fundsOversight & ethics enforcement

Sen. Blackburn's office confirmed a 2025 Senate Ethics Committee review of allegations that taxpayer resources were used for campaign work; Blackburn says there was no misconduct, and the committee's disposition has not been made public

Confidence: Corroborated · 3 sourcesTennessee · Oct 12, 2026

Subject of this story

Marsha Blackburn, U.S. Senator

Also named

Oversight

U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics

Advocate

John Rose, U.S. Representative, Tennessee's 6th district

What happened

In July 2026 NewsChannel 5 Investigates reported that Sen. Marsha Blackburn's Senate office was the subject of a confidential Senate Ethics Committee inquiry in 2025 into whether Senate staff were pressured to do political work on taxpayer time or with taxpayer resources ahead of her 2024 re-election campaign; staff were interviewed, and the station reported that investigators asked about the staff's relationship with campaign strategist Ward Baker. Blackburn's office did not dispute the inquiry. Its statement said, "the Senate Ethics Committee completed its review and resolved this matter with our office's full cooperation." Blackburn told WKRN the complaint was politically motivated and that "There was no misconduct. There was no disciplinary action," and said the committee's annual report shows no disciplinary action. Her office did not release its correspondence with the committee, so the committee's findings and the basis for resolution are not public; then-primary opponent Rep. John Rose asked her to release the final disposition. NewsChannel 5 also reported that it obtained recordings of Senate staff that were provided to the committee, in which staff voiced concern about being asked to do campaign work. The articles do not report any public statement from the committee, and Senate Ethics Committee records are confidential. The committee's published annual report for 2025 lists 27 preliminary inquiries that year, 18 dismissed as lacking substantial merit or as inadvertent, technical or de minimis, and zero letters of admonition and zero disciplinary sanctions; it does not name the senators or offices involved, so it does not identify how this matter was resolved. Blackburn's office has not released its correspondence with the committee.

Sources (3)

NewsChannel 5 NashvilleBlackburn's office was the target of a confidential ethics investigation last year focused on allegations involving the use of taxpayer dollars for her political campaigns; her office said the committee completed its review and resolved the matter.

NewsChannel 5 NashvilleBlackburn told WKRN the complaint was politically motivated and said there was no misconduct and no disciplinary action; the station reported it obtained recordings of Senate staff that were provided to the Senate Ethics Committee.

WSMVBlackburn's office alluded to an investigation and said the Senate Ethics Committee completed its review and resolved the matter with her office's full cooperation; it declined to share details or documents. WSMV said it was working to confirm the probe.

Response

Marsha Blackburn

Statement given

Contacted and responded — exact wording not on record.

What happened next (0)

No outcome recorded yet.

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