According to a current aide and a former aide who filed complaints, the House Ethics Committee has launched preliminary inquiries into Rep. Victoria Spartz’s alleged mistreatment of staff. The complaints accuse the Indiana Republican of exhibiting “abuse,” “general toxicity,” and “rage.” Investigators have reached out to these individuals in recent weeks to gather more information.
According to anonymous aides, they had filed complaints with panel investigators regarding Spartz’s behavior before she won the primary race last month. However, the Ethics Committee was hesitant to launch a formal investigation at the time due to the potential appearance of meddling in the election. The aides expressed their fear of retribution by Spartz, which is why they chose to remain anonymous.
According to two sources, Spartz’s erratic conduct has persisted. Recently, she has implemented pay reductions amounting to tens of thousands of dollars for certain employees, citing their inadequate performance. Additionally, in April, Spartz prohibited her staff from speaking with POLITICO journalists who were investigating her office, as per a memo sent to her employees.
In a text message shared by a former staffer, the individual in question wrote, “If you have a strong desire to speak negatively about me, I can accept that. However, please refrain from using baseless assumptions that could potentially harm someone’s life. It’s unprofessional and will not benefit you in the long run.”
According to a reliable source, Patrick Slowinski, who held the position of chief of staff for less than a month, resigned on Tuesday. He chose not to provide any comments on the matter. Moreover, Michael Stevens, who had been serving as the communications director for Spartz since January, also left his position on Tuesday evening, as per the same source.
When asked about the ethics inquiry through a text message, Spartz responded by saying that she was unsure about what the inquiry was in reference to.
In a statement provided by campaign adviser Dan Hazelwood, it was confirmed that the Ethics Committee staff has not reached out to Spartz.
According to him, the congresswoman has expressed her disapproval towards those in Washington who prioritize power, pay, and privilege over enacting meaningful change. He also noted that whenever the system is scrutinized, unsubstantiated rumors and embellished tales tend to circulate. However, she firmly believes that it’s crucial for individuals to be responsible and deliver concrete policy results that benefit the American people.
When questioned about Slowinski’s resignation, Hazelwood expressed his regret, stating, “We are sorry to see Patrick depart.” He further explained that due to the congresswoman’s announcement of running for re-election and a recent challenging primary, the office is being reorganized, leading to the modification of several positions.
Tom Rust, who serves as the chief counsel and staff director for the Ethics Committee, has chosen to refrain from commenting on the matter at hand.
According to a former Spartz staffer, an investigator disclosed that the panel aides are currently collecting materials and waiting for approval from committee leaders to initiate a formal investigation. This update was shared towards the end of last month.
According to previous reports cited by the Goodrich advertisement, Victoria Spartz has exhibited manic behavior. The ad claimed that she frequently yells and curses, often referring to her colleagues as morons and idiots. In fact, interviews with several staffers revealed that Spartz would bully them until they left, rather than firing them outright.
Upon hearing the previous reports, Spartz conveyed her appreciation for her team and acknowledged, “I exert a great deal of effort at a pace that may not suit everyone.”
According to two individuals familiar with the matter, the Ethics inquiry is also investigating the utilization of House resources funded by taxpayers for campaign-related work during official legislative hours. The two sources noted that Spartz occasionally inquires about campaign matters when contacting her staff through their official phone lines while they are on duty in the office.
During a phone call in late March, Spartz allegedly told a former employee, “I would rather die than not complete a task. Can you give me that same level of commitment?” This statement was confirmed by a second former staffer who also heard Spartz make the comment. The employee reportedly shared this information with ethics staffers.
According to Hazelwood, Spartz did not request anyone to sacrifice their life, nor did she ask for personal tasks or staff members to prepare her meals.
During her two terms in Congress, Spartz has experienced high staff turnover and faced sharp criticism for her stance on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion. Recently, she recanted her support for future aid to Ukraine, despite it being her country of birth.