Johnson charges himself highest rent in Georgia

U.S. Representative Henry “Hank” Johnson, D-GA, pays more in rent for his campaign office than any other member of Georgia’s Congressional delegation, including the Peach state’s two U.S. Senators - a distinction made more dubious by the fact Johnson’s landlord is the law firm that bears his name.

A Majority Accountability Project (majorityap.com) review of the freshman Democrat’s financial disclosure forms, filed with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC), found that Johnson began paying Johnson and Johnson Law Group in Decatur, GA, $1500 a month in “rent for campaign headquarters” in April, 2007.  Johnson practiced civil and criminal law at Johnson and Johnson for more than 30 years, where he was a partner with his wife, Mereda Davis Johnson.

A search of business records in the state of Georgia revealed that Johnson and Johnson Law Group was dissolved October 17, 2007, but Johnson again paid the firm a month later.

Five of the state’s 13 House members reported no rent expense for 2007.  Among those maintaining a campaign headquarters, Republican Jack Kingston was the most frugal, reporting monthly rent of $250.

The $1500 paid to Johnson and Johnson Law Group is even higher than what Georgia’s two U.S. Senators pay in monthly rent for their campaign headquarters.  U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss reported rent expenses of $560 a month, little more than a third of Johnson’s payments.  U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson came closest to Johnson, reporting a monthly rent expense of $1306.69.

But as a percentage of Isakson’s overall campaign budget, his headquarters’ rent is a far bigger bargain.  Isakson raised almost $2.3 million through the end of last year, nearly ten times the $254,555 raised by Johnson.

SECOND OFFICE
Despite maintaining the most expensive campaign office in Georgia’s Congressional delegation, Johnson’s campaign committee reported he began paying another $350 a month to rent a “campaign HQ” from Jubilee Holdings in Lithonia, GA.

Jubilee Holdings is owned by Robert Burroughs, and its address is the law firm where Mrs. Johnson is now a partner.  The firm, Burroughs Johnson Hopewell LLC, was formed July 1, 2007, after Mrs. Johnson ended her practice with her husband, citing his election to Congress.

House ethics rules forbid members from earning additional income for professional services such as law firms, which prohibited Rep. Johnson from continuing his legal practice.

Johnson’s second rental once again sets him apart from the rest of Georgia’s Congressional delegation.  No other member reported paying rent to a second entity.

PROTRACTED MOVE
Johnson also likely underwent the lengthiest office move in Congressional history.

The freshman Democrat’s campaign filings report more than a dozen expenditures for moving his campaign office.  According to those records, he began moving his campaign headquarters June 19, 2007.  Johnson’s latest moving expense was paid December 3, 2007, nearly six months later.

Johnson defeated controversial U.S. Representative Cynthia McKinney in the 2006 Democrat primary, before winning election to Congress later that year.