FBI Investigates Rep. Andy Ogles Over Campaign Finance Issues
Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) revealed that the FBI seized his cell phone last week due to an ongoing investigation into his campaign finance filings. Ogles acknowledged the investigation in a post on social platform X, emphasizing his commitment to cooperation.
"It has been widely reported for months that my campaign made mistakes in our initial financial filings. We have worked diligently with attorneys and reporting experts to correct the errors and ensure compliance going forward," Ogles stated.
Campaign Finance Discrepancies
The FBI's action follows concerns about Ogles' financial declarations. Local Tennessee outlet NewsChannel 5 Nashville reported the news, noting that the search occurred shortly after Ogles won a primary election with 56.5% of the vote. Ogles, a first-term lawmaker and member of the House Freedom Caucus, expressed confidence that the discrepancies were honest mistakes.
"I am confident all involved will conclude that the reporting discrepancies were based on honest mistakes, and nothing more," Ogles said. Despite the investigation, Ogles has pledged full cooperation with authorities, including the Federal Election Commission.
FEC and Campaign Legal Center Scrutiny
The scrutiny centers on a $320,000 loan Ogles reported making to his 2022 campaign. NewsChannel 5 raised questions about the source of the funds as Ogles reported few personal assets. The Campaign Legal Center filed a complaint with the Congressional Ethics Office, questioning Ogles' failure to disclose assets used for the loan and a $700,000 line of credit opened in 2022.
Comparisons to George Santos
The complaint drew parallels to former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.), who faced felony charges for fraud related to his campaign finance issues. Allegations against Ogles include exaggerated credentials and unreported financial assets. Ogles has since filed amendments to his Federal Election Commission (FEC) disclosures, acknowledging mistakes.
Statements from Authorities and Ogles
Mark Wildasin, spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee, declined to comment due to department policy. Meanwhile, Ogles provided assurances regarding the situation.
"Unfortunately, the full amount of my pledge was mistakenly included on my campaign’s FEC reports," Ogles explained, committing to file amendments to reflect the accurate circumstances. Ogles remains resolute in addressing and resolving the investigation's concerns.
