WV Rep. Alex Mooney billed campaign for personal expenses

In late December 2018, Mooney and his family spent “a few days” at Canaan Valley Resort, which is located in Davis, W.Va., outside of the 2nd District he represents. When asked by investigators if the trip had been planned around the Christmas or New Year’s holidays, Mooney said it hadn’t and called it “more of a site visit” to visit employees and those who work in the area. Mooney also said he planned to meet with a donor, but the meeting never happened. 

“The evidence suggests that the trip to Canaan Valley Resort is most appropriately characterized as a multi-night, resort holiday vacation for Rep. Mooney and his family, paid for with campaign funds, that he unsuccessfully attempted to characterize as an official site visit during his interview,” the OCE said.

Mooney reimbursed his campaign $2,445 for expenses related to Canaan Valley Resort at the direction of his lawyer, Dirk Haire, who is also chairman of the Maryland Republican Party, the report said.

Mooney’s May 2020 visit to Smoke Hole Resort was another trip that raised concerns and had not been reimbursed, the report said. Mooney traveled with at least one of his children for a one-night stay at the resort on May 13, and billed the campaign $189. On May 14, the campaign spent $302 at Smoke Hole Outfitters, which offers guided fishing tours.

Mooney, who did not produce receipts, told OCE it was “for fishing for staff” while on an official district tour, the report said. The OCE, however, concluded, “the weight of the evidence indicates that no staff members were present on this tour.”