House Ethics Panel Extends Review After $140,000 Travel Audit

The House Ethics Committee will continue its investigation into Representative Lance Gooden after the Office of Congressional Conduct released a report detailing $140,000 in questionable travel expenses.

The OCC report, made public on Monday, states there is substantial reason to believe the Texas Republican engaged in improprieties. The office found that Gooden received more travel reimbursements than any other House member in 2025. The document describes a pattern of extravagant expenditures that appear inconsistent with his official duties.

The report identifies specific financial irregularities in Gooden's travel habits. It notes that he frequently stayed at luxury hotels with rates exceeding $1,000 per visit. The OCC also observed that Gooden and his staff almost exclusively used business or first-class travel. These travel classes have strict guidelines for reimbursement eligibility.

The findings include issues with how expenses were processed. Some travel costs were charged to accounts under the name of Gooden's wife. The report argues this practice allowed for the accumulation of private rewards and benefits from official funds, which House rules prohibit.

The OCC also examined Gooden's campaign finances. Federal Election Commission data showed discrepancies between expenses in accounts associated with his campaign committee and the entries in his FEC filings. The office noted that for nearly every disbursement listed, the itemized values did not account for the total amount charged.

Gooden's office has disputed the investigation's scope and process. In a June response to the OCC's referral, his counsel stated that the materials requested were unreasonably burdensome. They argued that the office should have shared specific theories or concerns before demanding responses. Gooden and members of his staff declined to cooperate fully, which the OCC says hindered its inquiry.

Representative Gooden responded to the report's release on Monday. He criticized the OCC in a statement, calling the referral insane and bogus. He stated that the Ethics Committee would expose a witch hunt and asked House Administration to investigate the OCC's target selection and record of failed inquiries.

The ethics committee is composed of five members from each party. Texan Representatives Nathaniel Moran and Sylvia Garcia are among the committee members. Other Texas members have faced similar scrutiny, with Representatives Wesley Hunt and Ronny Jackson previously cleared by the committee. Representative Troy Nehls is also under review, with no public findings since the OCC's 2024 report.

The release of the OCC report came just after Gooden narrowly defeated Chelsey Hockett by three percentage points in the general election last week. This victory secures his fifth term in Congress. His counsel wrote in June that Gooden remains committed to transparency and looks forward to working cooperatively with the committee to provide context and documentation.

The OCC referred its findings to the House Ethics Committee in June, before the details were made public. The committee announced on Monday that it is extending its review of the case. The report noted that without Gooden's cooperation, the office could not determine if the expenses complied with House rules.