Group files complaint, seeks probe into Horsford
A watchdog group with ties to former Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt says it filed a complaint Wednesday against Rep. Steven Horsford with the Office of Congressional Ethics, asking for an investigation into allegations of payments and favors given during the course of his extramarital affair with a former U.S. Senate intern.
Americans for Public Trust Executive Director Caitlin Sutherland said the complaint asks the office to look into allegations against Horsford made by Gabriela Linder, who recently began detailing her longtime affair with Horsford in a public podcast titled “Mistress for Congress.”
Americans for
Public Trust describes itself as a nonpartisan, nonprofit watchdog group.
Its website lists Laxalt, the Republican former attorney general and current state chair for President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign, as outside counsel; and Sutherland, a former researcher for the National Republican Congressional Committee, as executive director.
Horsford’s staff has said he never gave Linder any money or support from his congressional fund or any of his campaign accounts.
Linder said she does not recall receiving any gifts from his official accounts, and neither the Review-journal nor Americans for Public Trust found any instances in which Horsford’s campaigns gave money to Linder or her consulting company.
His office reaffirmed Wednesday that Linder never worked for Horsford nor received campaign or official funds from him.
But Sutherland contends that the Office of Congressional Ethics can access files and information not readily available to the public or that have been improperly labeled with the Federal Elections Committee.
Contact Rory Appleton at rappleton@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0276. Follow @Rorydoesphonics on Twitter.