Rep. Elissa Slotkin is facing a Federal Election Commission investigation into a house she rented from a wealthy donor last year when she was running for re-election in Michigan, DailyMail.com can reveal.
Local media reported last year that she rented a furnished property in Lansing from Jerry Hollister, a medical manufacturing businessman and campaign backer. She paid $2000 a month for the furnished apartment including utilities.
Now the Committee to Defeat the President, a conservative political action committee, says it paid a below-market price in a deal that amounted to an in-kind campaign contribution that was never declared and exceeded donation limits.
“The people of Michigan deserve much better than a two-faced politician like Slotkin who tried to persuade her constituents to keep her political career,” said Ted Harvey, the group’s president.
“Since Slotkin now has his eye on a Senate seat, Michiganders would be wise to look elsewhere and demand accountability.”
Rep. Elaine Slotkin (D-Michigan) rented a house from Jerry Hollister, a medical manufacturing executive and campaign backer, last year when she won re-election in the House
Slotkin’s campaign said she was paying $2,000 a month for a furnished apartment with utilities. The Committee to Defeat the President said the fair market rent would have been much higher
The FEC has acknowledged receipt of the complaint and has begun the review process.
Neither Slotkin nor Hollister responded to multiple requests for comment.
Slotkin went on to win reelection in the November midterm elections.
On Monday, she announced she would seek the Senate seat vacated by fellow Democrat Debbie Stabenow’s decision not to run for re-election in 2024.
But as a result, she still faces questions about her House campaign, having moved from her childhood home to take up residence in the newly redistributed 7th Congressional District around Lansing.
Property records reviewed by DailyMail.com show that Slotkin had been living in a two-bedroom apartment in Lansing since May last year.
That property is owned by Hollister and his wife.
He is the director of government relations at medical radioisotope manufacturer Niowave, and has given at least $1,400 to Slotkin’s campaigns since 2018, according to federal documents.
“Because Campaign was required by law to include such in-kind contributions in Campaign’s regular financial reports and failed to do so, Campaign has violated applicable campaign finance laws,” the complaint filed with the Federal Election Commission last week reads. .
Property records show that Slotkin lived in this mansion in Lansing, Michigan as of last May. It is owned by Hollister and his wife
The Detroit News reported that Slotkin signed a seven-month lease to run through the election.
Amid a fuss over whether her residency was a stunt, the campaign said she opted for a short-term deal because of the fast-moving, inflated market.
And according to the campaign, Slotkin paid a market rate for the furnished apartment: $2,000 per month including utilities.
But a fair rent for the 1,840-square-foot, two-bedroom Lansing townhouse is estimated by market listing site Zillow to be $1,850 in 2020.
In its complaint, the Committee to Defeat the President estimates that a fair market rent in 2022, including furniture and utilities, for the property would be more than $2,600.
“Because Campaign was required by law to include such in-kind contributions in Campaign’s regular financial reports and failed to do so, Campaign has violated applicable campaign finance laws,” the suit reads.
It also alleges that Hollister has exceeded donation limits.
“Slotkin’s acceptance of monthly in-kind contributions from Hollister for her personal residence… resulted in Hollister exceeding applicable contribution limits for the 2021/22 election cycle,” it reads.
And it all came down to personal use of campaign funds, the suit alleges.
Notwithstanding the fact that no campaign funds have been debited from the Campaign bank account to pay for Slotkin’s personal residence, Slotkin has nevertheless engaged in personal use of campaign contributions by accepting a monthly in-kind contribution in the form of a monthly fee. rent for her personal home, furnishings and utilities…” it says.
