The House Ethics Committee is considering whether to change rules about lawmaker legal expense funds to expand the pool of people who can use them to pay for their legal bills connected to a campaign or office.
Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., who faced lawsuits related to his 2022 primary race, asked the committee to allow campaign staffers, vendors and spouses draw from legal expense funds rather than having to use campaign funds.
Members can set up these trusts when they encounter legal exposure as part of their role in public office to help them pay the associated costs. As it stands, only members and current or former House staffers can use money from a legal expense fund.
