The Louisiana GOP Senate primary is getting messy in its waning days, with President Donald Trump’s pick in the race criticizing one of her opponents for getting paid by a Washington, D.C. law firm while simultaneously serving as Louisiana’s Treasurer.
During one of the recent debates, Treasurer John Fleming confirmed that he is employed by The McKeon Group, a lobbying firm with a heavy D.C. presence. Fleming’s financial disclosure forms for his campaign back the charge, levied by Rep. Julia Letlow (R., La.), and others.
Fleming’s filing lists $41,500 in salary from The McKeon Group, Inc. and $120,217 in salary from the State of Louisiana. The firm itself continues to list Fleming as an “advisor” on its website.
Following the revelations, Letlow demanded that Fleming “immediately resign from the McKeon Group.”
“Fleming confessed during the Moon Griffon debate that he remains a paid, active employee of the lobbying firm while serving as Louisiana State Treasurer,” Letlow noted. She and her allies have argued that Fleming’s dual salaries represent a potential conflict of interest; “John Fleming cannot collect a taxpayer-funded salary and D.C. lobbying paychecks without full transparency,” her campaign noted.
The Fleming finding comes as some polls suggest that Louisiana voters are open to him as an alternative between the Trump-endorsed Letlow and the incumbent, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R., La.). But Trump advisors like Alex Breusewitz are arguing that “John Fleming should drop out of the race and join President Trump in supporting Letlow for Senate to defeat RINO Bill Cassidy.”
Fleming’s campaign did not response to request for comment.
