Conservative 'C Street House' Residents Face Ethics Complaints For Below-Market Rent

The bevy of conservative members of Congress who've resided at the notorious "C Street House" may have violated Congressional gift rules by accepting steeply-discounted lodging, new ethics complaints allege.

The watchdog organization CREW (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington) filed complaints Thursday charging Republican Sens. Sam Brownback (Kan.), Tom Coburn (Okla.), Jim DeMint (S.C.) and John Ensign (Nev.), as well as Reps. Mike Doyle (D-Penn.), Heath Shuler (D-N.C.), Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) and Zach Wamp (R-Tenn.), with accepting "improper gifts" from C Street in the form of way-below-market rent.

Other residents past and present did not make the list -- most notably trail-hiking Gov. Mark Sanford (R-S.C.), who lived in the C Street House while in Congress and helped make the place famous by seeking counseling there in the wake of his affair.

According to reports cited in the CREW complaints, the members of Congress residing at C Street pay $950 per month for rent and housekeeping, versus a minimum of $1,700 per month for nearby one-bedroom apartments, $2,400 per month for adjacent hotels or $4,000 for corporate housing. The CREW data piggybacks in part on similar charges filed earlier this week against the house itself by a clergy group, which complained to the IRS that C Street was improperly using its privileged tax status.

"This situation cries out for an immediate ethics inquiry," CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan said in a statement. "At a time when so many Americans are losing their housing, it is surprising to discover that some members of Congress are lucky enough to have a landlord that charges below market rent for fairly luxurious accommodations ... you can't help but wonder exactly what these members may be doing in return for all of this largess."

Comments

[truthfinderddw]

06:38 AM on 05/13/2010

Two entirely different standards when your a Congress member. Who in the He_ _ keeps these guys in Office. If your supporting these members your part of the Problem!

[Terryc123]

02:24 AM on 04/05/2010

I bet some very weird shit goes down at that house. I'd like to check their computers to see how many porn sites they visit.

[bmike]

06:08 PM on 04/04/2010

they were thumping bibles, making false promises about ending abortion and being paid for the work by very low rent.some dems and repubs will come together for money in their pockets as long as its behind closed doors.if it wasn't so many repubs they may face prison' but since it was repubs it wasn't that bad any man would take cheaper rent.They receive talking points for the next day before bed.

[ladyearth]

03:55 PM on 04/04/2010

"C Streeters," like Al Capone, will be brought down.

[fireW]

02:28 PM on 04/04/2010

The cons will get away with it as they always do. The "it's O.K. if you're a republican" special rules will be applied as they strike up the band for the latest con moral relativism parade.

[rgateman]

12:56 PM on 04/04/2010

A 9 bedroom church that believes jebus lives in a pyramid in the moon for only $950 a month! Gives teabagging a whole different perspective doesn't it now.

[MrPatriot]

09:48 AM on 04/04/2010

Two words;Charlie Rangel.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2129267/charlie_rangels_financial_and_tax_scandals.html
And he has been protected by “drain the swamp”Pelosi for years.Democrats are so corrupt it’s beyond belief.
People who live in glass houses ……………..

[Political Avatar]

01:49 PM on 04/04/2010

And this has to do with a 'church subsidying and propping up political figures how?

So Charles Rangle was also being puppet mastered by a religous orginization? Which is completely against the intent of the constitution?

[swift goat pet for truth]

06:23 PM on 04/04/2010

And we are supposed to believe some Radical Right Wing screed.

Oh, sure.
That is a reasonable stance.

[farmilyman]

04:53 AM on 04/04/2010

It should be renamed the CCC for Creepy Christian Conservative house.

[rgateman]

01:01 PM on 04/04/2010

(to the tune of the Addams family)
they're creepy and they're spooky,
they're seriously kooky,
they really are just eww-ky,
the C street Fam-bily.
(snap snap)

[sadwitness]

11:41 PM on 04/03/2010

I'd like to know the tax implications of this as well as the political repercussions. I worked for a property management company for years and, as employees, we were taxed on any rent discount that we received. If they are and have been getting this perk as a result of their "employment" (regardless of the lack of work there) that represents money that they should have spent. Seems they should have paid taxes on it. Did they? If not, we should have a big bucket of federal income heading our way. Taxes and penalties on all that unreported income...that should help even out some of the deficit.

[Political Avatar]

12:43 AM on 04/04/2010

Supposedly they are getting the 'discount' because they are affiliated (members) with the religion of the property owners (the Family) as the Family has stated that they give a discount to their members.

And since the Family is a 'religous' orginization, they dont pay taxes for the discounts....

Now they are backtracking and trying to say that the polititions are not in anyway religiously affiliated with the Family....

Which is odd considering they get spiritual counsaling there, and the fact they are getting rooms worth 4000 dollars a month for 10,000 dollars a year.

[Political Avatar]

12:49 AM on 04/04/2010

Woops I spoke to soon, they had their tax exempt status removed because of the Sanford scandal:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tenCc1CAIjE&feature=player_embedded#

They lost their tax exempt status, which they had for 20 years for using the property for commercial purposes (renting out the property).

[sadwitness]

01:17 AM on 04/04/2010

They soooo slimy

[jodieez]

07:16 PM on 04/03/2010

If anyone is curious about the C street connection and what is means to our political system should read the book ""The Family by Jeff Sharlet. This book describes how this organization has influenced our politics since the 1930's and how strange it's core beliefs have shape the idea, that christianity under powerful and wealthy christians should rule this country. Some of there rules would be, no labor unions, poor folks should not be allowed to vote, and only the rich and powerful should make the rules, that rest of us should follow.

[Auduboner]

01:53 PM on 04/03/2010

12 bedrooms and NINE bathrooms - this is a luxury hotel, not a rooming-house... Daily meals and cleaning service by the religious acolytes as well. Given the many dalliances of the Residents, who believes that those young girls emerge from their "service" unscathed?

I can't wait for "Tales From C Street" when one of them is eventually de-programmed...

[Political Avatar]

02:54 PM on 04/03/2010

And one of the senators had the nerve to say: Two fifty year old men sharing a bathroom is not glamourous.
Another complained that the made service was rudimentary or 'basic'.

So you mean I can get all that for $10,000 a year in DC? If so where do I sign up? I will be saving the goverment on my subsidy and rent if thats the case.

[MyOwnPerson172]

10:17 AM on 04/04/2010

It might appear cheap, but you would have to associate with the religious hypocrite extreme, and that would be costly indeed.

[MajorKong]

12:06 PM on 04/03/2010

Harpers did an article on The Family a few years ago, well before most people had heard of them.

They're a pretty creepy bunch.

[zlohcuc]

10:33 AM on 04/03/2010

Kudos to the best representive of effective journalism in television...Rachel Maddow. She kept the focus on this story until it was impossible to shove under the rug. More disturbing than the of instances of potential criminal conduct by some of the residents of C street is the manner that some of our representatives are "appreciated " by large institutions that have everything to gain from their favorable consideration.

[From the Raft]

11:33 AM on 04/03/2010

Rachel kept the focus on the story just long enough for Fox News to pick it up as worthy of expansive coverage on each one of their shows. It is just not fair or balanced that this developing story was stolen from Rachel and MSNBC by the likes of Roger Aile's and his students!

By the time FOX finishes with the story the House will be a national monument and it former residents American heroes wearing the Congressional Medal of Honor!

[zlohcuc]

04:57 PM on 04/03/2010

The genie is out of this bottle and we all have calenders. Maddow made this story regardless of which one of these other groups run with it now, this crew will finally get the attention they deserve in this matter. Fox, CNN and the networks all sat back and did their usual impersonations of news groups. Perhaps they were busy covering more critical matters like the presidents poll popularity or repub strip club shenannagans.

[jeanwny]

07:56 PM on 04/03/2010

I think the Faux gang is good at spin but not that good !

[AZreb]

10:23 AM on 04/03/2010

Who is the owner of the building? What is the preferred tax status? Is it claiming to be a non-profit group? And who, besides Mark Sanford, lived there and is not being investigated? And why isn't he?

We would sure like to know.

[From the Raft]

11:35 AM on 04/03/2010

Tom Coburn was Mark Sanford's OB-GYN at the House not sure he lived there though.

[VietVet67]

02:19 PM on 04/03/2010

Did he practice his love on him?

[Tommygun264]

11:21 PM on 04/03/2010

Bart Stupak is specifically mentioned as one of the residents in Jeff Sharlett's book, "The Family". Stupak's obsession with abortion is also mentioned. According to the book, Stupak is so vehemently opposed to abortion because, according to him, "Muslims are having more babies". He wants to not only outlaw abortion, but all forms of contraception, which he considers "pre-emptive abortion". According to the book, even the cult's leader advised Stupak not to push the abortion issue because it would draw too much unwanted attention to him and his connections to the C Street cult.

[Political Avatar]

09:47 AM on 04/03/2010

What gets me is these guys think that they are paying "fair market value'.

I live on the edge of North East(NE) DC, and have a subsidy for Homefirst 2 housing(disability), and I pay more than they do a month for rent and my rent is managed BY THE GOVERMENT to make sure we are not taking advantage of.

These guys are paying ten thousand dollars for rent a YEAR for a luxery room ONE block from the capital building, with 'rudermentary' maid service?

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I have a FREAKING SUBSIDY AND I PAY MORE THAN THAT,PLUS UTILITIES!
And lets be completely honest, if they were renting this on the open market this place would be packed by people who are not in Congress.

And lets be honest here, only congressman with certain religious leanings are 'invited' to live at this 'boarding' house.
To say this is a bit shady, is the very least you can say. These congressmen must be scratching someones back for this kind of gift.

Because if anyone there or who had lived there really thinks that a one bedroom appartment with all utilites paid and MAID service (even if you do share a bathroom), thats one block away from the capital and only cost $850 or 950 a month is a 'standard' rate then they are delusional, and need to be removed from congress or AT LEAST made to live in a 'real' appartment for 950 a month.

[From the Raft]

11:38 AM on 04/03/2010

So Congress has a team of back scratchers?

[Political Avatar]

12:04 PM on 04/03/2010

Yes... thats exactly what I meant... excuse me while I go bang my head into the wall and cry for today's youth....

[Martha12]

07:46 PM on 04/03/2010

What gets me is these guys think that they are paying "fair market value'.

Oh NO they do not...not for a minute!

Where in North America can you pay that kind of money for ....rent.......maid service...chef .......AND ...........food?

These are luxurious digs, not subsidized housing and the food is no cafeteria or boarding school fare and certainly not like a church kitchen.

In fact this is nothing like a church at all.

It is a mansion with a full staff catering to the "needs" of it's guests.

All tax free!