A senior aide to a Republican congressman from Georgia is embroiled in a major ethics scandal. Investigators allege he orchestrated a paid congressional internship for his girlfriend, who collected a salary without ever performing any work for the office.
Chief of Staff Faces Serious Ethics Allegations
The controversy centres on Brandon Phillips, the 39-year-old Chief of Staff to Georgia Representative Mike Collins. A damning 33-page report from the Office of Congressional Conduct (OCC), made public on Monday, details the allegations. The OCC found "substantial reason to believe" that Phillips violated House rules by participating in the hiring and retention of Caroline Craze, a 26-year-old woman he was dating.
According to the report, Craze was paid as a district office intern for Representative Collins' team. However, the investigation concluded she never performed any duties for the office. The OCC stated that multiple witnesses independently confirmed Craze never worked there.
The $10,000 Internship That Never Was
The financial details of the arrangement are striking. Caroline Craze received more than $10,000 over approximately four months for the alleged internship. During this exact period, her LinkedIn profile showed she was employed full-time as an "Internal Consultant" at Cox Communications, from January 2022 through January 2024.
House rules explicitly prohibit members and staff from making biased employment decisions that benefit romantic partners. Phillips is accused of failing to disclose the relationship and improperly using his position to grant "special favours or privileges" to Craze.
Political Backlash and a History of Controversy
The report has been forwarded to the House Ethics Committee for further review, potentially leading to formal sanctions. The incident has sparked questions about whether Representative Collins approved the hiring. Collins' office has dismissed the complaint as a "politically motivated attack" and a sad attempt to derail an effective conservative legislator.
The OCC report also highlighted Phillips' past legal troubles. In 2022, he was arrested on a misdemeanour animal cruelty charge for allegedly kicking a woman's dog. Furthermore, he resigned from his role with the Trump-Pence Georgia campaign in 2016 after earlier criminal trespassing and battery charges resurfaced.
As the ethics probe moves forward, this case underscores ongoing scrutiny of congressional hiring practices and the consequences of alleged misuse of taxpayer funds for personal gain.
