What’s Happening:
Raphael Warnock is a senator out of Georgia. He won a special election in 2020, replacing a sitting Republican. Since then, the Democrat has been charged with numerous accusations about his financial situation.
In the past, the reverend was confronted over a housing development his church owned. Some critics have raised concerns about the salary he receives from this occupation. Now, new allegations concerning his 2022 income have come to light. If true, Warnock might face serious charges.
From Fox News:
Democratic Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock bypassed outside income limits last year by using a “fabricated” loophole, according to a report.
Warnock’s financial disclosure shows he received $154,895 in compensation from Atlanta’s historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in 2022, while outside income for senators is limited to around $30,000.
However, Warnock exceeded the limit by claiming that $125,000 of his pay from the church was “deferred compensation for services before January 20, 2021,” the Washington Free Beacon reported.
Senators are limited to how much money they earn outside their role as a lawmaker. That limit is set to $30,000 a year. However, according to Warnock’s 2022 records, he received payment from his church in the amount of $154,895.
Warnock claims this does not violate the law, because this money was “deferred compensation” from before he became a senator.
Financial and legal experts are crying foul. Some are saying that if he actually earned this money while being a senator, he is in violation of the law. He could even face consequences if it comes out that he inaccurately filed his records or falsely claimed this was deferred payment.
This loophole might not even be legal. Critics are accusing the senator of fabricating this loophole, as there does not seem to be any exception to the income limits.
Warnock could end up facing scrutiny over this situation. If the Senate does not open an ethics investigation, third-party accountability organizations might.
Key Takeaways:
- GA Sen. Warnock reported higher outside income than what is allowed for a U.S. senator.
- Warnock claims the payments from 2022 were “deferred” from before he was a senator.
- Financial experts suggest Warnock could be in violation for falsely filing his records.
Source: Fox News
