According to Politico and CREW, John McCain likes to play craps. In a recent article at The Crypt, John McCain is alleged to have had some winnings from the MGM in Vegas and has not reported it on his Senate Finance Disclosure forms. CREW got wind of this and filed a formal Ethics Complaint with the Senate requesting that they launch an investigation and refer the matter over to the Department of Justice for prosecution.
From Politico:
A McCain campaign official contacted Politico and contends that winnings don’t have to be reported in disclosure forms. The campaign contends that neither the House nor the Senate has ever required disclosure of gambling winnings on financial disclosure reports as “earned income.”
According to CREW:
Gambling winnings are earned income that must be disclosed. It’s not even a close call. Pages 33-34 of the Senate Ethics Manual state “the staffer who appears on Jeopardy and becomes a grand champion may keep her prize money and other winnings as may the Senator who purchases the winning Powerball ticket.” The manual continues, “Such winnings must be reported by disclosing individuals as earned income.” What possible distinction can there be between lottery and game show winnings and money won at a craps table?
The Senate Ethics Committee provides specific instructions on how to complete the report. The Ethics Manual itself provides some guidance.
What do you think?
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