CA-40: Formal Complaint Filed Against Republican Young Kim for Alleged Misuse of Official Resources
COTO DE CAZA – A formal ethics complaint has been filed against Representative Young Kim (CA-40), alleging the misuse of official House resources for political campaign purposes. The complaint, submitted by Chino Hills resident Terri Miller to the House Ethics Committee, outlines violations regarding mass mail communications that have been reportedly political in nature and financed with taxpayer funds, in direct violation of House rules.
The complaint identifies two significant infractions. The first concerns the use of official funds for campaign-related communications. House rules stipulate that official resources must be used solely for official business, explicitly prohibiting the use of government funds for political campaign purposes. According to the complaint, Republican Representative Young Kim distributed six mailers, paid for by Official House funds, that contain political messaging aimed at influencing voters rather than providing necessary updates or resources to constituents. The mailers are alleged to have crossed the line from informational updates into political strategy, convoluting the distinction between official communications and campaign materials.
The second violation pertains to the 90-day ban on unsolicited mass communications. House rules prohibit members from sending unsolicited communications using official funds within 90 days of an election in which the member is on the ballot. The complaint alleges that Republican Representative Young Kim violated this rule by sending mass mailers on the following dates: August 25, August 27, September 4, and September 6, 2024 – all within the 90-day window of August 7, 2024. The complaint states that these mailers reached households throughout the district and contained no useful information on public resources, focusing solely on campaign messaging.
The complaint additionally notes that this is not the first instance of alleged violations by Republican Representative Young Kim, accusing her of a pattern of abusing House rules and forcing taxpayers to bear the costs of her political campaigns.
https://theliberaloc.com/2024/09/13/formal-complaint-filed-against-republican-representative-young-kim-for-alleged-misuse-of-official-resources/