The Left doesn’t like to play by the rules. Now they’re getting exposed.
Because a bizarre document dropped that could end this Democrat’s election chances.
Maggie Goodlander, a candidate embroiled in the contentious Democratic primary to replace Rep. Annie Kuster (D-N.H.), has stirred up serious concerns with a questionable personal financial disclosure that leaves the true value of her significant assets shrouded in mystery.
Goodlander, a former Biden Justice Department official and the wife of Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan, is vying for Kuster’s seat in New Hampshire’s 2nd Congressional District — a liberal stronghold that Biden won by 9 points in 2020. While her primary rival, Colin Van Ostern, enjoys the endorsement of Kuster herself, Goodlander has rallied support from Democratic elites like Hillary Clinton and EMILY’s List, a pro-abortion group. But as the primary heats up, so does scrutiny of Goodlander’s financial transparency.
Goodlander’s August 12th financial disclosure has left experts scratching their heads, especially as the race intensifies ahead of the September 10 primary. Even Kuster has entered the fray to boost Van Ostern, as polls show Goodlander leading.
The disclosure has sparked confusion, with several easily verifiable assets — such as checking accounts, retirement funds, and even properties currently listed for sale — marked as “undetermined” in value.
“To be perfectly honest, this was pretty bizarre,” remarked Danielle Caputo, legal counsel for ethics at the Campaign Legal Center, in reference to Goodlander’s vague disclosure.
Among the assets whose values remain suspiciously “undetermined” are a Fidelity Investments IRA and a retirement savings account from Yale University.
It’s worth noting that these assets don’t fall into the five categories the House Ethics Committee allows to be listed as “undetermined”: pensions, futures contracts, intellectual property rights, solar energy rights, and certain options contracts.
“I can’t remember a time where I saw ‘undetermined’ listed as a value of an asset, let alone dozens of times,” Caputo added.
Under the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, members of Congress, federal candidates, and senior staff are required to disclose their assets, liabilities, and outside income. Goodlander, who served as counsel during Trump’s first impeachment, took advantage of a 90-day extension to file her disclosure, which is routine for those needing more time to gather information.
When questioned, a Goodlander campaign spokesperson hinted at an impending amendment to the disclosure, stating, “The campaign completed the initial financial disclosure with all the information it was able to obtain at the time.” They added that an amendment would be filed once additional information was received.
The lack of transparency raises serious questions about Goodlander’s financial dealings. Not only did she fail to specify the value of most of her assets, but she also marked each one as “Other,” bypassing specific codes for trusts, bank accounts, retirement funds, real estate, and other assets — even when she disclosed a value range.
Moreover, Goodlander’s report failed to break out the underlying assets of certain retirement accounts, including 401(k)s and IRAs, as required by the House Ethics Committee.
“What is the purpose of omitting required details on your financial disclosure form, which only serves to put the people you’re trying to represent in the dark about who you are exactly and who you may or may not be beholden to,” Caputo questioned.
Goodlander, who has outraised Van Ostern, has also faced criticism over her ties to the district and other issues. Kuster recently released an ad accusing Goodlander of running a “deceptive campaign to buy a seat in Congress” and of donating “thousands to pro-life Republicans.”
In response, the Goodlander campaign fired back, calling the attacks “false, shameful, and out of bounds,” and arguing that using reproductive rights as a political weapon is “about as low as it gets.”
Goodlander’s campaign has also released ads defending her commitment to abortion rights and her residency in the district. One ad features state Sen. Cindy Rosenwald (D), who dismisses the “lies” about Goodlander as “outrageous” and insists she’s a true Nashua native.
Polls suggest a tight race, with Goodlander slightly ahead. A University of New Hampshire Granite State Poll shows her leading Van Ostern 34 percent to 28 percent, with a significant portion of voters still undecided. Another poll from Saint Anselm College finds Goodlander ahead 41 percent to 31 percent.
Despite these numbers, the race remains close, and the seat is rated “likely Democrat” by The Cook Political Report.
Stay tuned to the Conservative Column.
