The House Ethics Committee carried out preliminary investigations into the deputy. Victoria Spartzthe treatment of employees in response to multiple complaints filed about the Indiana Republican’s alleged “abuse,” “general toxicity” and “anger,” according to a current aide and a former aide who made complaints and were contacted by investigators recently weeks.
The aides, who were granted anonymity due to fear of retaliation from Spartz, said their complaints were presented to the panel of investigators before Spartz won his primary race last month. Investigators told them the Ethics Committee would not launch a formal investigation before then, given the possible appearance of election interference, the aides said.
Spartz’s turbulent behavior has continued since then, the two people said. In recent weeks, she has imposed pay cuts totaling tens of thousands of dollars for some employees, which comes amid her continued complaints about her team’s performance. In April, Spartz sent a note to employees prohibiting them from speaking to POLITICO reporters seeking tips about her office.
“If you want to talk bad about me, I’m fine with that… but please don’t use some made-up speculations that could put someone’s life in danger… it’s unethical and won’t be helpful to you in the future,” she wrote in the text, shared by a second former employee.
On Tuesday, his chief of staff, Patrick Slowinski, resigned after being on the job for less than a month, according to a person familiar with the matter. He declined to comment.
Reached by text about the ethics inquiry, Spartz said she was “not sure what you’re talking about.”
Campaign advisor Dan Hazelwood later responded in a statement that Spartz had not been contacted by Ethics Committee staff.
“The congresswoman has long criticized that many in Washington want power, pay and privileges and then turn around and do nothing,” he continued. “When the system is held accountable, we receive anonymous rumors and exaggerated stories. … She insists that people be held accountable for delivering political results to the American people.”
Asked about Slowinski’s resignation, Hazelwood said, “We’re sorry to see Patrick go” and added, “The congresswoman announced she was running again and just came through a tough primary, so the office is being reorganized and several positions are being changed.”
Tom Rust, chief counsel and staff director for the Ethics Committee, declined to comment.
Two senior Ethics Committee officials interviewed at least three additional current or former employees about the office’s culture as well as alleged misuse of taxpayer resources, according to the two people. POLITICO obtained text messages sent in April between ethics officials and the former aide, who shared names and phone numbers of current employees as leads with investigators.
The former Spartz employee said one of the investigators shared late last month that panel aides are still collecting material while awaiting approval from committee leaders to begin a formal investigation.
In last month’s primary, Spartz defeated eight competitors — including state Rep. Chuck Goodrich, who outspent nearly three to one. Goodrich attacked Spartz’s treatment of his team in the heated primary, calling her the “number one worst boss in all of Congress,” based on a POLITICAL Report 2022.
“Manic behavior”, the Goodrich Ad he stated, citing the previous report. “She screams and swears, calling them idiots and idiots. Based on interviews with half a dozen employees, Victoria Spartz avoided firing employees and instead intimidated them until they left.”
Responding to previous reports, Spartz expressed gratitude for his team and said, “I work hard at a pace that is not for everyone.”
His behavior appears not to have changed much since then, according to what six current and former aides described to POLITICO in recent months. The two people mentioned above, who were also granted anonymity, described incidents of verbal abuse to Ethics investigators.
The ethics inquiry, the two people said, also covers the use of taxpayer-funded House resources for campaign work during legislative business hours. Spartz sometimes asks staffers about campaign issues when he calls them on their official phones while they are in the office, according to the two people.
“The common thing is for her to call someone or to their face, swear at them, say the F-word about a million times, call them damn retards, damn kids, damn whatever,” the current employee said. . “This is a weekly thing. It’s not rare. All of my interactions with her were filled with complete and utter anger.”
The former employee recounted how they told ethics officials that Spartz had told them over the phone in late March: “I would rather die than not complete a task. Can you give me the same level of commitment?” A second former employee heard Spartz make this comment.
Hazelwood said that Spartz “didn’t ask anyone to die” and that she “doesn’t ask for personal chores or employees to prepare her dinners.”
Spartz mercurial two terms in Congress were marked by high staff turnover, harsh criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the two years since Russia’s invasion, and, ultimately, his withdrawal of future support of aid to Ukraine, his home country.
