From the government watchdog group CREW:
Representative Andrew Clyde (GA-9) violated House ethics rules by introducing, sponsoring and advocating for legislation that would benefit his firearms company, according to a complaint filed today by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington with the Office of Congressional Ethics.
In January 2023, Attorney General Merrick Garland approved a rule that places stricter regulations on pistols equipped with stabilizing braces (also known as pistol braces) that allow them to be fired from the shoulder like a rifle
. Firearms equipped with these braces have been used in several recent mass shootings, including the 2021 shooting in a grocery store in Boulder, Colorado that left 10 people dead. Rep. Clyde owns Clyde Armory Inc., a company that sells firearms equipped with these braces.
Since Attorney General Garland implemented the rule, Rep. Clyde has introduced legislation that would eliminate many restrictions put in place by the rule, a congressional resolution that would nullify the rule and an amendment that would prevent the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives from spending any funds on implementing the rule.
Rep. Clyde has advocated for this legislation on the House floor, in a House committee hearing, through press releases, in media interviews and on his official government Twitter and YouTube accounts.
House rules clearly state that members normally should not engage in certain official actions, such as sponsoring legislation, advocating or participating in a committee proceeding or contacting an executive branch agency, when their financial interests are at issue.
There are ethics rules against representatives introducing, sponsoring and advocating for laws that benefits their own finances.
And yet, Rep. Andrew Clyde did all of that, serving the interest of his firearms company. So we filed a complaint.https://t.co/tk1Jzh5U00
— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) September 1, 2023
If Rep. Clyde (R-GA09) thought the Jan 6th terrorists were “just tourists” why was he terrified enough to help barricade the door to the House chamber against them? pic.twitter.com/BkiLIe3BBs
— Ellen Spivak (@EllenSpivak) July 28, 2021
As a gun dealer, Rep. Andrew Clyde is flooding his community w/ firearms used in crimes *and landed on an ATF watch list for it. As a lawmaker, Clyde is abusing his position to benefit himself & his store. This self-server should be removed from any committee dealing with guns. https://t.co/6Jngv1fih1
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) August 25, 2023
