A watchdog group is filing a complaint asking the Senate Ethics Committee to investigate why Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman allegedly failed to disclose eight real estate assets on his most recent personal financial disclosure.
The total value of the properties he left off his disclosure form was $108,800. All eight of the properties were in Braddock, Pa.- Fetterman’s hometown where he served as mayor. His name is listed as owner on all of them on the Allegheny County website. Many of the properties appeared to be empty lots worth between $10,000 and $20,000, one was a building structure worth over $40,000.
Fetterman did not list a single real estate asset on his most recent July 29 disclosure. His team could not be reached for comment on the matter.
The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT) wrote a letter, obtained by DailyMail.com, to Ethics Committee Chairman Sen. Chris Coons, D-De., and Vice Chairman James Lankford, R-Okla., asking them to ‘immediately investigate’ whether Fetterman violated the law by withholding the assets from his disclosure form.
Federal law and Senate ethics rules require Senate candidates to file a financial disclosure statement that provides a ‘full and complete’ statement of their assets, debts, and income, as well as any position held. Candidates are required to report any property with a ‘fair market value’ of $1,000 or more.
A watchdog group is filing a complaint asking the Senate Ethics Committee to investigate why Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman allegedly failed to disclose eight real estate assets on his most recent personal financial disclosure
The total value of the properties he reportedly left of his disclosure form was $108,800
All eight of the properties were in Braddock, Pa.- Fetterman’s hometown where he served as mayor
Many of the properties appeared to be empty lots worth between $10,000 and $20,000, one was a building structure worth over $40,000
According to FACT, at least seven of the eight properties Fetterman did not disclose were valued over $1,000- though the precise fair market value is not known, their assessed values are $41,500, $22,100, $14,100, $10,500, $9,600, $9,300, $1,000 and $700.
Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor is locked in a highly competitive race with Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz to replace retiring GOP Sen. Pat Toomey, and potentially decide control of the upper chamber. The two have traded barbs in viral social media tirades, including one where Fetterman knocked Oz for calling vegetables ‘crudite’ and Oz claimed Fetterman may not have had a stroke if he ate vegetables.
Recently Fetterman knocked Oz for saying he owns two houses, despite having investments in 18 properties. The Democrat frequently paints Oz as being disconnected with the state and accuses him of spending more time at his New Jersey residence.
In August Oz was captured on video at a campaign event saying: ‘Well I, legitimately, I own two houses. But, uh, one of them we’re building on; the other ones I rent.’
The Daily Beast later reported he owns 10 houses, including a 18,559-square-foot estate in Palm Beach, Fla., that has been valued at more than $36 million.
Oz clarified in a tweet that he owns ’10 properties (disclosed when I announced). 2 homes,’ referring to his campaign finance disclosure. The disclosure shows he has investments in 18 properties, 10 of which have houses on them. The two he calls ‘homes’ are a Pennsylvania property purchased last year and his New Jersey mansion.
A Fetterman spokesperson criticized Oz for not including the investment properties in comments to CBS. ‘A house? A property? An investment property? What? Dr. Oz is so out of touch that he doesn’t even get that real people—people who he claims he will fight for in Washington—don’t care about the difference,’ said Emilia Rowland, the spokesperson.
Fetterman suffered a stroke in May and took three months away from the campaign trail, and lately Oz allies have raised questions about whether he is healthy enough to perform as U.S. senator.
Recently Fetterman knocked his opponent Dr. Oz for saying he owns two houses, despite having investments in 18 properties.
Above is an overhead image of Mehmet Ozs Louwana property in Palm Beach, Florida
On Tuesday even the Washington Post editorial board slammed Fetterman over his refusal to commit to a debate with Oz before the election and called on him to release his health records for an independent review.
‘Fetterman has seemingly been reluctant to commit to firm debate dates,’ the newspaper wrote. ‘And that troubling stance has raised questions about whether he, still recovering from a serious stroke, is fit to serve in the Senate.’
‘Fetterman is asking voters for a six-year contract without giving them enough information to make sound judgments about whether he’s up for such a demanding job,’ the Post added. ‘We have called for full disclosure of health records from candidates for federal office in both parties, including Donald Trump and Joe Biden, and we believe Mr. Fetterman should release his medical records for independent review.’
Fetterman committed to a debate last week, though did not say when or where it would be.