ICYMI: “Cramer Could be Using a Loophole to Skirt Reporting”

(BISMARCK, ND) – What is Kevin Cramer hiding?

NDxPlains: Cramer Could be Using a Loophole to Skirt Reporting
By Tyler Axness

• As Congressman Kevin Cramer is seeking a seat in the U.S. Senate, he may be using a loophole to skirt the reporting requirements of his assets on his personal financial disclosure. The Senate rules vary from the House.
• By reporting his financial assets as a member of the House, where ethics rules don’t require reporting non-interest bearing accounts, instead of a candidate for the Senate, where ethics rules require all accounts with assets in aggregate of $5,000 be reported, regardless of interest, Cramer could potentially be concealing information on his finances.
• This wouldn’t be the first time Cramer’s financial reporting has raised questions. In fact, if he is using a loophole it only leads to more questions.
• As far as I can tell, Cramer has not reported having a bank account on his federal personal financial disclosure dating back to the mid-1990s. Recall, he first ran for Congress against Earl Pomeroy. Around that time, he held numerous appointed state government positions. He was appointed State Tourism Director. Then he was appointed Economic Development Director. Then he was appointed Public Service Commissioner (PSC). All before he ran for Congress. All taxpayer funded paychecks, yet he didn’t report having a bank account to deposit and withdraw from?
• [Cramer earned] approximately $995,650 in [between 2011 and 2016]. Earlier this year, Politico reported that Cramer has reimbursed himself approximately $200,000from his campaign account. Yet no bank account reported on his personal financial disclosure.
• In addition, it has been well documented that Cramer pays his wife through campaign funds. She works on his reelection campaign. Between 2013 to 2016, Cramer paid his wife approximately $100,000. Even if they don’t share a bank account, if I understand correctly, spouse assets should still be reported. Over this same time period, Kevin Cramer has donated approximately $25,000 in campaign contributions.
• It seems odd Cramer hasn’t reported a bank account. Other candidates for the U.S. Senate have done so. Unless he has distributed these funds at numerous banks as to not have an aggregated amount over $5,000 then perhaps he found a creative loophole to not disclose all of his financial assets. If that is the case, further scrutiny is needed. What would he be hiding?

Read the full article here.

See more:
Politico: “Paying family with campaign funds could dog Cramer in Senate bid.” 

KFYR: HEADLINE: Rep. Kevin Cramer’s campaign fund use comes into question

NDxPlains: HEADLINE: Report Raises Questions About Congressman Cramer’s Pay Practices

High Plains Reader: “Hamm and his net worth of $19.5 billion became the decision maker for Cramer accepting Hamm as his national finance chairman.” 

WDAY: “[Cramer] didn’t want to risk losing his seat in the House… It was a call from oil tycoon Harold Hamm, whose net worth is $18 billion, that finally tipped the scales” to him running for U.S. Senate.

Associated Press: As Public Service Commissioner, Cramer was accused of “taking improper campaign contributions from coal mining officials.”

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