Anti-Corruption Plan

As a Navy helicopter pilot and former NASA Chief of Staff, I’ve spent my career in environments that demand complete accountability. In combat zones, there is no margin for error. The same holds true at NASA, where dangerous missions and critical safety needs require strict adherence to standards.

It’s time for the U.S. Congress to be held to similar standards. Trust in government is at a record low, because Americans see Washington getting rich while people are struggling to pay their utility bills. This is particularly true in Central Florida, where our current Congressman, Cory Mills, has been constantly enmeshed in corruption and conflict of interest scandals. The new Republican nominee, Ryan Elijah, promises more of the same, as he already faces a House Ethics complaint and has pledged that he intends to trade stocks while sitting in Congress.

This needs to end. If elected, I would work to pass a comprehensive series of reforms.

The End Extensive Elected Personnel Enrichment Lunacy (EXPEL) Plan

Send Corrupt Politicians to Prison.

In Florida, a grand jury found that Gov. DeSantis’s cronies in Tallahassee stole $10 million in taxpayer money that was earmarked for poor children’s health insurance. They then put this money – our tax dollars – into political action committees. A grand jury found that the money had been misappropriated, but with insiders covering up for each other, everyone is walking free. Corruption is a problem on both sides of the aisle – just take a look at Senator Bob Menendez and the gold bars he kept in his basement. Punishing corruption can’t be inconsistent and politically driven. In every instance, we need to prosecute corruption to the full extent of the law and send corrupt politicians to prison.

Ban Congressional Stock Trading.

While Americans are struggling to afford gas and groceries, D.C. insiders are getting rich. Members of Congress have been caught trading stocks like Zoom prior to the COVID-19 lockdowns, and buying defense stocks right before conflicts break out. We know that insider trading is happening – but not a single member of Congress has been prosecuted under the laws designed to regulate it. Instead, the penalties under current law start at $200 – which is a drop in the bucket relative to the profits members of Congress have made on insider information. Democrats and Republicans are guilty of this, and any real accountability starts with banning individual stock trading for all members of Congress.

Ban All Federal Government Employees and Elected Officials From Betting on Prediction Markets.

As a veteran, I was sickened to see online prediction markets betting on whether the downed F-15 pilot and Weapons System Officer in Iran were going to come home alive. These grotesque prediction markets allow politicians and insiders to cash in by betting against America. With so much money at stake, it’s no coincidence that our government in D.C. has gone so far as to sue state governments that tried to regulate prediction markets. It’s time for Congress to take action, and make this insider betting illegal.

Overhaul the Congressional Ethics Committee.

We have seen over the past years that Congress is incapable of policing itself. There are no standards in place to govern how quickly investigations move, and when Congress must update voters about ongoing investigations. The speed of an investigation should not be determined by the whims of a crony committee. The Congressional Ethics Committee must follow transparent, predictable standards for investigations – like our law enforcement officers do every single day.

Make Prison Time the Penalty for Sharing Information Detrimental to Operational Security.

We’ve seen an unprecedented amount of information leaking out of Washington that could actively harm our service members and intelligence personnel in the field. Our troops are putting their lives on the line to defend this country. When the people putting them in danger are Americans charged with their protection who can’t be trusted to safeguard sensitive information – the penalty needs to be serious.

Provide Independent Audits of Members’ Financial Disclosures.

While in office, Congressman Mills and others have made a mockery of the financial disclosure process. Ryan Elijah promises more of the same, as he is already subject to a House Ethics complaint for hiding assets on his financial disclosures. If hard-working families tried this kind of nonsense on their tax returns, they’d be worried about getting an audit from the IRS. That’s why it’s time for members of Congress to be subjected to independent audits on their filings – not the toothless review from their cronies that we’ve seen from the House Ethics Committee. There should be real penalties for lying on these disclosures, and hiding information from the American people.

Strip Ethics Offenders Of Taxpayer-Funded Pensions.

This year alone, we’ve seen three members of Congress – Democrats and Republicans – resign from Congress in disgrace for sexual misconduct and fraud. Unbelievably, Americans may still be on the hook for paying for their retirement. Any elected or appointed government employee who is 1) found guilty of ethics violations or 2) resigns from office during an ongoing ethics investigation must forfeit their taxpayer-funded pension.

Outlaw Taxpayer-Funded Hush Money.

For too long, politicians in Washington, D.C. have leveraged their positions of power and misused taxpayer funds to silence victims of harassment and abuse. Elected members have utilized a Congressional slush fund and the resources earmarked for their personal offices to pay away misconduct allegations. There is a long and troubling history of sexual harassment and abuse from elected representatives. Let’s hold them accountable – not pay for their hush money.

Ban Members of Congress from Becoming Lobbyists.

For too long, there has been a revolving door between Congress and DC lobby shops. Lobbyists hold too much influence over our politicians, who too often want to cash in on their relationships and land lucrative positions after their term is over. Members of Congress are sent there to vote on behalf of their constituents, not to curry favor for their next job. That’s why it’s time to ban politicians from becoming lobbyists so representatives answer only to their constituents.