June 26, 2025
Rep. Andy Ogles faces FBI probe for fabricating $320,000 campaign loan
FBI drops Ogles probe one week after he proposes Trump third term.
📜Constitutional Law🗳️Elections⚖️Justice
Tennessee Republican Andy Ogles faces parallel FBI and House Ethics investigations over more than $1 million in campaign-finance discrepancies, including a fabricated $320,000 “personal loan” he reported for two years before admitting it was only $20,000.
After Ogles proposed a constitutional amendment to let Donald Trump serve a third term on January 23 2025, federal prosecutors quietly filed notice one week later—on Thursday, January 30 2025—to withdraw from his criminal probe with no explanation, spotlighting the way political favors can buy prosecutorial relief.
Rep. Andy Ogles reported a $320,000 “personal loan” to his campaign for over two years before admitting in 2024 that the actual amount was $20,000.
Investigators documented over $1 million in campaign-finance discrepancies, including a $700,000 undisclosed line of credit, phantom vendor payments, and a seized phone and email.
The FBI seized Ogles’ phone and email on August 2, 2024—the day after his Republican primary win (55%–44%).
On a unanimous 6-0 vote, the Office of Congressional Ethics recommended a full House Ethics Committee investigation into Ogles’ filings.
Eight days after Ogles introduced a constitutional amendment on January 23, 2025, to allow a third presidential term, Middle District federal prosecutors withdrew from his case on January 30, 2025, with no public explanation.
Ogles claimed $450,000 in total fundraising but had only about $250,000 in actual donations, inflating his figures with the fabricated loan.
Campaign reports show payments to phantom vendors, including $14,000 to JL Tech Sales (a plastics manufacturer), $8,327.50 to India-based Tachyon Tech, and $3,520 via Venmo transactions.
Ogles represents a safely Republican district (Cook PVI R+11), won his 2024 general election by 57%–40%, and faces multiple primary challengers in 2026.
He has stalled the FBI investigation since October 2024 using Speech and Debate Clause motions before U.S. Magistrate Judge Alistair Newbern.
📜Constitutional Law🗳️Elections⚖️Justice
People, bills, and sources
Andy Ogles (U.S. Representative for Tennessee’s 5th District; subject of FBI and House Ethics investigations)
Actor
U.S. Magistrate Judge Alistair Newbern (hearing Ogles’ Speech and Debate Clause motions)
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Former FBI Assistant Director Frank Figliuzzi (warned corruption cases involving Trump allies may be dropped)
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Courtney Johnston (2024 primary challenger; raised $640,000 through a PAC and endorsed by former Gov. Bill Haslam and Sen. Bob Corker)
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Donald J. Trump (President, 2025
present), JD Vance (Vice President), John Thune (Senate Majority Leader), Chuck Schumer (Senate Minority Leader)
What You Can Do
1
Track federal legislation and committee actions on congress.gov to follow any proposed constitutional amendments or campaign-finance reforms.
2
Review campaign-finance disclosures and FEC filings directly at FEC.gov to verify fundraising and spending claims for your representatives.
3
Monitor Office of Congressional Ethics reports at oce.house.gov and House Ethics Committee releases at ethics.house.gov for investigation updates.
4
Contact your members of Congress via official websites to express views on enforcing campaign-finance laws and ensuring accountability.
5
Attend or watch town halls and public forums to ask elected officials about transparency measures and ethics enforcement in campaign finance.
6
Subscribe to reputable local investigative outlets and national resources (e.g., Campaign Legal Center, AP, The Hill) for in-depth coverage and analysis.
7
Use Vote411.org or state election websites to confirm district boundaries and partisan leanings, and to prepare for primaries and general elections.