The Nebraska Democratic Party is asking the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate 2nd Congressional District Republican nominee Brinker Harding over missing two deadlines for personal financial disclosures.
Precious McKesson, executive director of the Nebraska Democratic Party, in a letter Wednesday to the DOJ, wrote that “voters in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District have a right to information about Mr. Harding’s financial interests.”
Harding has faced questions over missing deadlines to file both of his required personal financial disclosures to run for Congress, one of which was due last year.
All candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives who raise or spend more than $5,000 are required to file a personal financial disclosure form with the Clerk of the U.S. House within 30 days of announcing their congressional candidacy or by May 15, whichever comes first.
McKesson, in her letter, pointed to the federal Ethics in Government Act, alleging that Harding violated the law, and called for appropriate penalties and corrective action, including an imposed fine. Under the act, an individual who “knowingly and willingly” fails to file a personal financial disclosure can be subject to a civil penalty of up to $11,000.
New financial disclosures are due every year on May 15. Candidates may request an extension of up to 90 days. The form is meant to show a person’s assets and sources of income.
Harding told Omaha ABC affiliate KETV that he has been working to resolve the issue “as soon as he was made aware,” saying it takes time to do so “completely and accurately.”
“There is nothing intentional, deliberate, or egregious about this — and I have nothing to hide. We are working to make this public as soon as possible,” Harding said in the statement.
All other House candidates who have advanced to the general election have submitted their first and second disclosure reports or received an extension, as was reported first by Nebraska Public Media News.
Incumbent U.S. House members are also required to file personal financial disclosure reports, and all of Nebraska’s are up to date. Nebraska Republican Party Chair Mary Jane Truemper said in a statement that the letter is a “baseless attack” and “a desperate attempt by the Democrat Party to create smoke where there is no fire.”
“Brinker Harding has spent a lifetime in business and public service leading with integrity. Nebraskans know his character, and they won’t be distracted by political gamesmanship,” Truemper said in a statement.
Truemper said it is Democratic U.S. House nominee Denise Powell who “owes Nebraskans an explanation” for having consulted with “left-wing organizations now under investigation by the Nebraska attorney general” for allegedly accepting donations tied to a foreign billionaire.
Powell, who faced similar allegations during the primary election, has denied any wrongdoing.
The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the Democratic Party letter Thursday.
The latest exchange likely previews the tone of a heated general election race between business and nonprofit consultant Denise Powell, who co-founded Women Who Run, and GOP nominee Harding, an Omaha City Council member.