Former top Paul Broun staffer resigns new post after indictment
We just got word that Paul Broun's former chief of staff resigned from his new post as the top aide in another congressional office hours after the Department of Justice announced he had been indicted.
The office of U.S. Rep. Mimi Walters said Thursday that David Bowser, who was serving as the California Republican's chief of staff, tendered his resignation on Wednesday. That's the same day the Justice Department charged Bowser on eight counts in conjunction with the alleged misuse of nearly $44,000 in taxpayer money to finance campaign activities and obstructing a congressional investigation into the matter.
Here's the full statement from Walters' office:
"David Bowser tendered his resignation on April 6, 2016. The charges against him involve incidents alleged to have occurred in the office of former Georgia Congressman Paul Broun in 2012-2014, before Rep. Walters became a member of Congress."
Broun, who left Congress at the end of 2014 after placing fifth in Georgia's Senate GOP primary, on Wednesday evening said he was “disappointed” about the indictment and added that he is “not aware of any ethical violations by my staff at any time.”
“I have cooperated fully with the investigators at every step. Throughout this process, it was made clear that I was not the subject of the investigation. Everything I did was completely above board and the investigation has proven that,” Broun said in a statement.
The news has already become a campaign issue for Broun, who is challenging incumbent Doug Collins, R-Gainesville, in the Republican primary for his Ninth District congressional seat.
About the Author
Tamar Hallerman is an award-winning senior reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She covers the Fulton County election interference case and co-hosts the Breakdown podcast.
