During the 2022 midterm election season, James Clyburn, a senior Democrat in the House of Representatives and backer of Biden, reportedly paid members of his family with money from his campaign.
Clyburn paid tens of thousands of dollars to a company connected to his son-in-law and also gave in almost $100,000 to his grandchild, based on the records from the Federal Election Commission. Clyburn was instrumental in helping former Democratic candidate Joe Biden win the South Carolina presidential primary in 2020.
Although it is permissible for federal legislators to pay family members with campaign donations, experts typically view this practice as unethical. Despite this, prominent Democrats have benefited from the practice.
During the 2022 midterm election season, Rep. James Clyburn paid his family members using campaign funds. According to records, he paid 49 Magnolia Blossom LLC, which is closely associated with his daughter Jennifer Clyburn Reed, $57,500 to cover rent costs.
Walter A Reed, Jennifer’s husband, is listed as the limited liability company’s registered agent in South Carolina corporate filings. Additionally, during the midterm election season, Clyburn paid his grandson Walter A.C. Reed $94,000 in “campaign management fees.”
Since his initial election in 1993, Rep. James Clyburn has had a safe seat in the House of Representatives, comfortably winning re-elections in South Carolina’s 6th congressional district. President Biden’s 2020 campaign relied heavily on Clyburn because of the pivotal role he played in swaying South Carolina’s primary vote in Biden’s favor.
President Biden nominated Jennifer Clyburn Reed, Clyburn’s daughter, to serve as the federal co-chair of the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission in 2021 after winning the presidential election. The Senate barely approved Jennifer, a former teacher, for the position, which aims to reduce financial hardship in the Southeast of the United States.
His support for Biden’s second nomination has been enthusiastic.
In a recent interview with CBS’ Robert Costa, Clyburn stated: “I’m all-in for President Biden. I think he’s demonstrated, in these two years that he is deserving of re-election. And I do believe he will be re-elected irrespective of who the Republicans, they put up.”
Clyburn gave Biden praise for “Passing more progressive legislation than any president since Lyndon Baines Johnson.”
He responded, “I don’t think he will, and I don’t think he should,” when asked if he believes Biden will meet serious opposition.
