McMahon files ethics complaint against opponent

WATERBURY, Conn. (WTNH) -- Republican Linda McMahon is claiming Democrat Chris Murphy got an improper sweet heart deal on a loan from a Connecticut bank. Murphy's campaign calls the allegation a "shameless political ploy."

Murphy has admitted he missed some mortgage payments, but made good on it, however the McMahon campaign says that's not the whole story.

Murphy's campaign is defending against what it describes as a "desperate ethics attack filled with lies" from the McMahon campaign.
        
McMahon's campaign has filed a complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics, claiming that Murphy got a sweet heart deal on a home equity loan in violation of Congressional rules.
         
The loan came from Webster Bank, a bank that Murphy worked for as a private attorney. The bank's Political Action Committee contributed to Murphy's past campaigns and it received a $400 million federal bailout.
         
In the complaint, McMahon's campaign manager alleges that Murphy "accepted a prohibited gift and used his official position to secure himself personal and political financial benefit." McMahon says voters should connect the dots.

"We think it's incumbent on Congressman Murphy to really explain his actions and tell the truth to the voters in Connecticut," she said.
       
In a detailed statement the bank says; "In 2008, Webster refinanced Cong. Murphy's home equity loan, with no exceptions and at market rates and terms. The 4.99 percent interest rate was well above the 3.99 percent rate that the bank's most credit worthy customers were receiving at the time. Murphy's service in Congress and on the House Financial Services Committee had no effect on Murphy's banking relationship with Webster."
     
Murphy is countering by saying that McMahon's much publicized bankruptcy was the result of failed investments in shaky tax shelters and that she refused to pay taxes for five years.

"Congressman Murphy is going to continue to push back on things that happened with me 35 plus years ago as a private citizen, filing bankruptcy," McMahon said. "This is really not about me."

On Monday, Congress was in session and Murphy was in Washington.
     
It's quite clear the McMahon campaign is doing this in an effort to get some damaging headlines for Murphy, but that's all it will do.
     
Congressional rules say that there can be no investigation of complaints like this within 60 days of an election.