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From the Washington Examiner: An ethics watchdog is calling for an investigation into Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) after he failed to disclose in his financial disclosures free housing he has allegedly been provided in Georgia.
The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust, which is right-leaning, submitted a letter to the Senate Ethics Committee urging the panel to open an investigation into whether Warnock violated federal law and Senate ethics rules when he failed to disclose that he has been living in a home owned by Ebenezer Baptist Church, where he still serves as a part-time senior pastor.
The Washington Free Beacon reported that Warnock moved into the home in 2023 and lives there rent-free. The complaint details the October 2022 purchase by the church for $989,000. It was marketed as an upscale retreat, boasting features such as a 100-bottle wine cooler, a Bluetooth-integrated stainless steel stove, custom crown molding, and a walk-in closet connected to a European-style bathroom equipped with a remote-operated privacy curtain.
Not long after the purchase, Warnock began living in the home. Around the same time, he sold his former Georgia residence and bought a new home in Washington, D.C.
According to Georgia state records, Warnock listed the luxurious 5-bedroom home as his primary residence when he registered to vote in November 2023.
Another nice perk for Warnock: since the home, which was built in 2022 and purchased brand new by the church the same year, is church-owned property, nearly all the property taxes are exempt, the Washington Free Beacon reported last month.
The Free Beacon also wrote:
In addition to his free Atlanta housing, Warnock earned a church salary of $31,800 in 2023 as well as nearly $461,000 in book royalties, his financial disclosure shows. A tithe on that income would have amounted to over $49,000, but it’s unclear if Warnock donated anything to Ebenezer Baptist Church in 2023.
Warnock’s financial arrangements with his church—in particular, a $7,417-per-month tax-free housing allowance he received from the church to cover his living expenses in Atlanta—drew scrutiny because it enabled him to exceed the Senate’s limitations on outside income.
But on Monday, the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT) fired off a letter to Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE), requesting they open an investigation into whether Warnock reported his lavish free housing perks.
In a press release, FACT writes:
Senate Ethics Rules states the Senate “may discipline a Member for any misconduct, including conduct or activity which does not directly relate to official duties, when such conduct unfavorably reflects on the institution as a whole.” One theme throughout federal law and Senate Ethics rules is that Members may not generally accept anything of value unless an identified exception applies, and if they do accept something it must be disclosed to the public. These laws address both conflicts of interest and corruption of Members of Congress. Sen. Warnock’s acceptance of lavish housing and failure to disclose it implicates federal law and several Senate rules.
COMPLAINT FILED: The known facts, the specific timeline, and the total lack of any disclosure in this case all clearly call for, at minimum, an investigation.https://t.co/x1M9LY9luT
— FACT DC (@factdc) April 21, 2025
NEW: @FreeBeacon has learned that Senator Raphael Warnock lives in a $1 million luxury Atlanta home FOR FREE—bought and paid for by the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church where MLK Jr. preached.https://t.co/XQPLNWtynZ
— Andrew Kerr (@AndrewKerrNC) March 31, 2025
Warnock faces ethics complaint over rent-free stay in $1 million residence https://t.co/u6jlXUnA0P
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) April 21, 2025
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