Senator Roger Marshall is facing scrutiny regarding the use of taxpayer dollars in relation to his campaign activities as he competes for re-election in Kansas. A staffer for his opponent, Democrat Adam Hamilton, has raised questions about whether Marshall's campaign staff are being compensated, as records indicate no payments have been made in the past five years. Marshall's chief of staff, Brent Robertson, acknowledged that there are now paid staff but did not provide details.
A joint investigation by Kansas Reflector and MS NOW uncovered various materials from Marshall's 2020 campaign that suggest a blurring of lines between his official Senate duties and campaign activities. The Members’ Congressional Handbook states that if the primary purpose of a trip is non-official, official activities cannot be scheduled to make the trip eligible for reimbursement. However, the investigation revealed instances where Marshall's office appeared to utilize taxpayer funds for campaign-related travel.
For example, during a campaign trip, Robertson arranged an official meeting in Chicago, allowing the campaign to book flights using taxpayer funds. The investigation also found that many trips charged to Marshall's taxpayer-funded account included campaign events, with staff using a color-coded system to differentiate between official and campaign activities.
Experts in campaign finance and ethics have raised concerns about these practices, suggesting they may violate federal law and congressional ethics rules. Craig Holman, a campaign finance expert, described the situation as a “blatant disregard” for ethics rules, while Brett Kappel, another expert, emphasized that there are strict limitations on using official funds for campaign purposes.
The investigation also highlighted Marshall's travel to Florida, where he owns a home that has become a campaign issue. Recent reports indicated that Marshall took multiple official trips to Sarasota, costing taxpayers nearly $19,000. Marshall's office stated that he has sold his Florida home, which was listed at $1.45 million.
Additionally, a meeting in October 2020 raised further ethical concerns, as it involved both congressional and campaign staff discussing campaign strategies while using official resources. Experts indicated that this meeting likely violated federal ethics rules prohibiting the use of official resources for campaign purposes.
Marshall is currently in a competitive Senate race against Hamilton, with recent polling showing the race essentially tied. National Republican organizations are reportedly investing in Marshall’s campaign to maintain the seat, which has not been held by a Democrat since 1932. Marshall has also faced criticism over lawsuits against former patients for unpaid medical bills, which his campaign has denied, asserting his commitment to patient care regardless of payment ability.