In August 2025, John James received an ethics complaint of illegally using his congressional office and federal resources to promote his gubernatorial campaign.
In 2024, John James faced an ethics complaint from End Citizens United for violating The STOCK Act and failing to disclose 145 stock trades.
HEADLINE: “Ethics Complaint Alleges John James Misused Government Resources In Campaign For Governor” [Michigan Independent, 8/29/25]
August 2025: Michigan Resident, Joel Rutherford, Filed A House Ethics Complaint Alleging John James Used His Congressional Office To Support His Gubernatorial Campaign. According to the Michigan Independent, “One of John James’ constituents in Michigan’s 10th Congressional District, Joel Rutherford, filed a complaint against John James with the U.S. House of Representatives Ethics Committee on Aug. 22, requesting an investigation into the matter, which stems from a backpack giveaway the Shelby Township Republican hosted in Utica two days prior. John James’ office publicized the event in a press release on congressional letterhead as a community giveaway to provide free backpacks and school supplies ahead of the school year. In photos of the event posted to social media, however, a staffer can be seen wearing a ‘ John James for Governor’ T-shirt near a table of backpacks with the same branding.” [Michigan Independent, 8/29/25]
2024: John James Faced An Ethics Complaint From End Citizens United, Alleging He Violated The STOCK Act And Failed To Disclose 145 Stock Trades. According to Michigan Advance, “End Citizens United, a left-leaning advocacy group, has filed an ethics complaint against U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Twp.), alleging John James violated the STOCK Act, by failing to properly disclose 145 stock trades and failing to file his annual financial disclosure on time. The complaint submitted to the U.S. House Office of Congressional Ethics requests the office ‘immediately opens a preliminary review to investigate Rep. John James’ apparent failure to file timely periodic transaction reports and his annual financial disclosure statement and take all necessary steps to seek appropriate penalties and corrective action.’” [Michigan Advance, 9/25/24]
2024: John James Filed Financial Disclosures More Than 250 Days Late. According to Michigan Advance, “By law, anyone who files their financial disclosures more than 30 days after the due date must pay a $200 late filing fee, according to the clerk of the House of Representatives. On Sept. 2, 2024, John James filed a report, which included transactions dating back to Nov. 10, 2023, with the complaint noting that some of the transactions are as many as 252 days late. The complaint also notes John James filed his annual financial disclosure for 2023 late after receiving an extension to Aug. 13, 2024, with John James filing the disclosure on Sept. 3, 2024.” [Michigan Advance, 9/25/24]
2024: John James Claimed He Was Unaware Of 145 Stock Trades And Said They Occurred Under A Blind Trust. According to Michigan Advance, “John James previously told the Detroit News he was unaware of the 145 trades, saying they took place under a financial trust that functions as a blind trust, in which beneficiaries have no knowledge of the trust’s holdings and cannot intervene in their handling. John James also wrote a letter to the U.S. House Clerk’s office saying there had been no impropriety, and no impropriety had occurred, and that he was taking aggressive action to ensure these errors did not occur in the future, according to the Detroit News. He also wrote that he had filed his 2023 financial disclosure late due to ‘prioritizing integrity and transparency above haste in correcting these newly uncovered errors.’” [Michigan Advance, 9/25/24]