GA Senator Warnock accused of ethics violation regarding his 'luxury home'

An ethics organization is accusing Georgia Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock of accepting housing from his church and not including it in financial disclosures.

The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust is asking the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics for an investigation, according to a letter on the organization's website.

The complaint says Warnock moved into a $989,000 luxury home in Georgia provided to him by Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church, where the senator is pastor. Before Warnock moved into the residence, he was receiving a $7,400 monthly housing allowance from the church.

"Since moving into the luxury home, Sen. Warnock has not included any information about being provided housing on his financial disclosures," the complaint said. "In addition to the undisclosed housing, he has reported receiving an annual income from the church just under the maximum outside earned income limit, for instance $31,815.12 in 2023."

Warnock sold his former Georgia residence and purchased a home in Washington, the organization said.

Kendra Arnold, executive director of the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust, said she is hoping the committee will act promptly on the request.

"There are tax laws and ethics rules which allow for a senator to accept reasonable lodging or housing, but they are only applicable in a narrow set of circumstances – they are not an open-ended loophole that can be abused," Arnold said in a statement. "Among other factors, it's critical that the value of the housing provided be commensurate to the work done – and then the value be disclosed. It's difficult to fathom any citizen could look at this situation (a U.S. Senator that is a part-time employee of an organization, which pays him a salary and then happens to buy him a million-dollar house to live in for free after he was elected to Congress) and not think something potentially wrong is afoot."

The Center Square was unsuccessful getting comment from Warnock through his office prior to publication.