Blum has ethics issues now. [View all]
Surprise, surprise
IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG/AP) -- Iowa Congressman Rod Blum is facing ethics questions concerning his involvement with an internet company. Blum didn't disclose his stake in the company, and his chief of staff appears in a promotional video for it.
Each member of Congress is required to file a financial disclosure that shows any investments or business involvements that may create a conflict of interest. Blum's disclosure leaves out his role as co-founder of Tin Moon. The company helps businesses manage internet search results that way good stuff about a business shows up more often than bad. And the role of his chief of staff promoting Tin Moon could be another ethics violation.
You can't visit Tin Moon's website without seeing a testimonial from a man named John Ferland who it says is "representing" another company called the Digital Canal Corporation. But The Associate Press reports Ferland never worked for Digital Canal. He is actually chief of Staff for Congressman Rod Blum.
House ethics rules require members of congress identify all business ties to avoid conflicts of interest. But in Blum's 2016 disclosure, he made no mention of his role at Tin Moon. A business filing lists him as one of two board of directors when the company incorporated that same year.
And of course does Blum man up and take responsibility? Fuck no. And who does blame for his ethical lapses? That's right. He took a cue from the Orange Stooge playbook and blamed the Democrats. He really needs to go away.