A former aide to ex-U.S. Rep. Paul Broun of Georgia stepped down from his position as top staffer in another congressional office on the same day he was indicted by the Department of Justice on eight counts.
The office of U.S. Rep. Mimi Walters said Thursday that David Bowser, who served as the California Republican’s chief of staff, tendered his resignation Wednesday.
“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,” Walters’ office said in a statement.
Bowser was charged by the Justice Department 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. Obstruction of proceedings, theft of government property, concealment of material facts and making false statement are among the charges levied against Bowser, who served as Broun's chief of staff between 2008 and early 2015, when the four-term congressmen left Washington.
Bowser could not be reached for comment Thursday.
Taxpayer money for members of Congress to run their offices cannot be used for campaign activity. It is common, however, for official staffers to volunteer for campaigns in their free time. That lies at the heart of the case facing Bowser.
Last year, Republican strategist and debate coach Brett O'Donnell pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Macon to lying to investigators about his work with Broun's office in the lead-up to an unsuccessful Senate run by the lawmaker.
Broun in a statement Wednesday evening said 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,” Broun said. “Everything I did was completely above board, and the investigation has proven that.”
Gainesville Republican U.S. Rep. Doug Collins, whom Broun is challenging for his 9th District congressional seat, has already brought up the case in the campaign.
“All roads in this criminal case lead back to Paul Broun,” Collins campaign manager Carmen Foskey said. “When is he going to take responsibility for abusing taxpayers’ hard-earned money?”
Broun said it was “disappointing” the situation was being used for “political gain.”
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