[Ed. note: This letter refers to the following press release: www.riverreporter.com/stories/secret-helicopter-leads-to-ethics-complaint-against-rep-bresnahan,213137.]

First, please note that Congressman Rob Bresnahan (R, PA-08) has operated, and will continue to operate, in full compliance with all applicable federal campaign finance and ethics laws. 

While the media would prefer that every personal detail of the congressman’s entire life story be splayed across the personal financial statement for all to tear apart and question, that’s simply not the purpose of the document. 

Personal financial statements filed by members of Congress and candidates are not intended to cover every detail of a person’s financial picture, or the businesses which they own. 

As a successful business owner and entrepreneur, Congressman Bresnahan has a variety of business interests. RPB Ventures, LLC is one such business, and the Congressman’s position with this business is reported on the Congressman’s personal financial disclosure. The helicopter is a business asset of RPB Ventures, LLC. 

Business assets are not personal assets, and thus not reportable in this particular instance. Therefore, as stated, it is not just incorrect, it is defamatory and an egregious lie to allege that Congressman Bresnahan violated federal law by failing to disclose an asset he does not personally own.

Jessica Furst Johnson
Counsel to Rep. Rob Bresnahan
Washington, D.C.