Comer, Davis, Hice Applaud IG Investigation into CA’s Voter Contact Contract with Pro-Biden Firm

WASHINGTON— House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.), Committee on House Administration Ranking Member Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), and Government Operations Subcommittee Ranking Member Jody Hice (R-Ga.) today released the following statement after learning the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) will audit the 2020 elections grants in California, including the $35 million grant awarded to Joe Biden’s main campaign advisory firm, SKD Knickerbocker, to contact voters. 

“Nine months after we raised red flags about a questionable no-bid contract awarded to Democrat operatives to contact voters, the Inspector General’s office finally is doing its job. SKD Knickerbocker was the main election campaign advisory firm for President Biden during the 2020 election, yet then-Secretary of State Alex Padilla disregarded the conflicts of interests and awarded this massive contract allowing the partisan firm to contact voters. This gross abuse of taxpayer dollars is ripe for investigation. While we welcome this news, it’s concerning it took this long to start an investigation into an obvious red flag. Whenever taxpayer dollars are potentially wasted, abused, or mismanaged, an inspector general must launch an investigation and expose any wrongdoing,” stated Ranking Members Comer, Davis, and Hice.  

The Republicans have repeatedly urged an investigation into the $35 million no-bid contract given it appears to violate the law, wastes taxpayer dollars, and presents a substantial conflict of interest. The leaders started their efforts in September 2020, urging then-Secretary of State Alex Padilla to provide information about the questionable the contract. In October 2020, after Padilla failed to respond, the Republicans urged the EAC OIG to investigate the contract. After three attempts to contact her and request the investigation, the Republicans urged then-EAC Inspector General Patricia Layfield to resign. She eventually stepped down in April 2021. Republicans also demanded the state of California return the funds to the Treasury.