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Referral·Office of Congressional Ethicsreferral

OCC Referral Regarding Rep. Michael Collins

Published January 5, 202637 pages
View source PDFOriginal source

Briefing

The Office of Congressional Conduct (OCC) reviewed allegations that Rep. Michael Collins’s office paid a district intern, Caroline H. Craze, who did not perform commensurate duties and who had a preexisting romantic relationship with the Member’s Chief of Staff, Brandon Phillips. The OCC found evidence (statements of disbursements, online profiles, and witness interviews) that corroborates the intern was paid while appearing to work elsewhere and that her hiring diverged from normal procedures. The OCC also found substantial reason to believe Rep. Collins used congressional resources for unofficial purposes and recommends the Committee on Ethics further review and issue subpoenas to several涉

Allegations

  • [high]Rep. Collins may have used congressional resources for unofficial or otherwise unauthorized purposes.
  • [high]Rep. Collins may have retained an employee who did not perform duties commensurate with the compensation received.
  • [medium]Rep. Collins may have discriminated unfairly by dispensing special favors or privileges by retaining an employee with whom his Chief of Staff had a personal relationship.
  • [medium]Brandon Phillips may have used MRA funds for non-official travel-related expenses, including personal and campaign-related travel and lodging.
  • [medium]Brandon Phillips may have received a House salary while working on campaign activities or while not performing House duties.

Findings

  • [referred]The OCC Board finds there is substantial reason to believe Rep. Collins used congressional resources for unofficial or otherwise unauthorized purposes.
  • [referred]The OCC Board finds there is substantial reason to believe Rep. Collins retained an employee who did not perform duties commensurate with the compensation received (Caroline H. Craze was paid as a District Office Paid Intern but witnesses corroborated she did not perform district office duties and online records indicate employment elsewhere).
  • [referred]The OCC Board finds there is substantial reason to believe Rep. Collins discriminated unfairly by dispensing special favors or privileges by retaining an employee with whom his Chief of Staff had a personal relationship.

This summary is generated by AI from the official document. Read the source PDF for the authoritative text.