April 14, 2023

Omar Ashmawy
Chief Counsel
Office of Congressional Ethics
U.S. House of Representatives
425 3rd Street, S.W., Suite 1110
Washington, DC 20024

Email: oce@mail.house.gov

RE: Rep. Tony Cardenas (CA-29)

Dear Mr. Ashmawy,

The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT) is a nonprofit organization
dedicated to promoting accountability, ethics, and transparency in government and civic arenas.
We request the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) immediately investigate whether
Representative Tony Cardenas has accepted a contribution from a lobbyist in violation of House
ethics rules.

Under the House ethics rules, a Member may set up a legal defense fund to cover the
costs of specific types of legal cases so long as the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct
gives prior written permission.1 The fund may not accept contributions greater than $5,000 per
year from an individual or organization and cannot accept any contributions from a registered
lobbyist.2 A legal expense fund shall be terminated at the earlier of either the fulfillment of the
legal expense funds’ purpose, the end of the time period for which the legal expense fund was
established, or at the Committee’s direction for non-compliance with legal expense fund
regulations.3

1 House Rule 25, clause 5(a)(3)(E); U.S. House of Reps Committee on Ethics, House Ethics Manual, at Gifts-28
(2022 Print), available at https://ethics.house.gov/sites/ethics.house.gov/files/documents/2022/House-Ethics-
Manual-2022-Print.pdf.
2 House Ethics Manual, at Gifts-29, App. 395.
3 House Ethics Manual, at Gifts-31.

www.factdc.org • 1717 K Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, D.C., 20006 • Phone (202) 787-5860

 Page 2 of 3
In 2018, Rep. Tony Cardenas set up a legal defense fund to cover costs when he was sued
for sexual abuse.4 The lawsuit was dismissed in 2019,5 but Cardenas continued accepting
contributions to his legal defense fund. In 2021, approximately two years after the suit was
dismissed, one contributor was “Catherine Pino, 6601 Rannoch Road, Bethesda, MD 20817,”
who made a $2,000 contribution on February 10, 2021 and a $3,000 contribution on November
18, 2021.6 Cardenas legal defense fund did not return these contributions (according to the House
of Representatives Legislative Resource Center records checked on April 6, 2023).

However, Pino is the founder and co-CEO of the lobbying firm D&P Creative Strategies,
which is located at the same address as listed on the contribution to Cardenas’ legal defense
fund.7 Prior to making the contribution to Cardenas’ legal defense fund, from 2012 to 2020, Pino
was listed on numerous lobbying disclosure reports.8 During the time period that Pino made
these contributions, she designated herself as a lobbyist (on both her mid-year lobbying
contribution report signed on July 20, 2021 and her year end report signed on Jan. 28, 2022).9
Pino continues to be listed as a lobbyist today.10

A legal defense fund is prohibited from accepting a contribution from a registered

lobbyist, but in this case it appears that Cardenas’ legal defense fund did so. There is no doubt
that Cardenas’ legal defense fund accepted Pino's contribution at the same time she designated
herself as a lobbyist. The Office of Congressional Ethics is responsible for ensuring each
Representative fulfills the public trust inherent in the office and that they comply with the
House’s ethical standards. Therefore, we urge the Board to immediately investigate whether
Representative Cardenas, though his legal defense fund, has accepted a contribution from a
lobbyist in violation of the House ethics rules.

4 John Bresnahan, Cardenas Sets Up Legal Defense Fund For Groping Lawsuit, Politico, Aug. 20, 2018.
5 Maeve Reston, US Congressman Tony Cardenas Says Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Dropped, CNN, July 4, 2019.
6 Tony Cárdenas Legal Expense Fund, U.S. House of Representatives Legislative Resource Center, Feb. 10, 2021
(attached as Exhibit A); Tony Cárdenas Legal Expense Fund, U.S. House Of Representatives Legislative Resource
Center, Nov. 18, 2021 (attached as Exhibit B).
7 Tony Cárdenas Legal Expense Fund, U.S. House of Representatives Legislative Resource Center, Nov. 18, 2021
(attached as Exhibit B); D&P Creative Strategies, LLC, Lobbying Report, Clerk Of The House Of Representatives,
signed April 18, 2022; D&P Creative Strategies, www.dpcreativestrategies.com/catherine-pino, last accessed April
6, 2023.
8 Lobbying Disclosures, Clerk of The House Of Representatives, Accessed April 6, 2021.
9Catherine Pino, Lobbying Contribution Report (LD-203), Clerk of The House Of Representatives, Signed July 29,
2021 (attached as Exhibit C); Catherine Pino, Lobbying Contribution Report (LD-203), Clerk of the House of
Representative, signed Jan. 28, 2022 (attached as Exhibit D).
10 Lobbying Contribution Report, Clerk of The House Of Representatives, Signed Jan. 25, 2023.

 Page 3 of 3
To the best of my knowledge and ability, all evidence submitted was not obtained in
violation of any law, rule, or regulation. Further, I am aware that the False Statements Act, 18
U.S.C. § 1001, applies to information submitted to the Office of Congressional Ethics.

Sincerely,

/s/Kendra Arnold

Kendra Arnold
Executive Director, Foundation for Accountability & Civic Trust

Exhibit A
Exhbit B
 Exhbit C

L OB B YIN G C ON TR IB U TION R E P O R T
Clerk of the House of Representatives • Legislative Resource Center • B-106 Cannon Building • Washington, DC
20515

Secretary of the Senate • Office of Public Records • 232 Hart Building • Washington, DC 20510

F ILER T YPE AND N AME I DENTIFICATION N UMBERS

Type: House Registrant ID:
Organization Lobbyist 37994
Lobbyist Name: Senate Registrant ID:
Ms. Catherine M Pino, 304554
Employer Name:
D&P Creative Strategies, LLC

R EPORTING P ERIOD
Year:
2021
Mid-Year (January 1 - June 30)
Year-End (July 1 - December 31)

P OLITICAL A CTION C OMMITTEE N AMES

PODER PAC

C ONTRIBUTIONS
No Contributions

#0.
Contribution Type: Contributor Name: Amount: Date:
FECA Self $250.00 02/19/2021
Payee: Honoree:
Angie Craig for Congress Rep. Angie Craig

#1.
Contribution Type: Contributor Name: Amount: Date:
FECA Self $500.00 02/19/2021
Payee: Honoree:
Victor Reyes for Congress Candidate Victor Reyes

#2.
Contribution Type: Contributor Name: Amount: Date:
FECA Self $500.00 03/11/2021
Payee: Honoree:
Victor Reyes for Congress Candidate Victor Reyes
#3.
Contribution Type: Contributor Name: Amount: Date:
FECA Self $500.00 03/17/2021
Payee: Honoree:
Norma Torres for Congress Rep. Norma Torres

#4.
Contribution Type: Contributor Name: Amount: Date:
FECA Self $500.00 03/17/2021
Payee: Honoree:
Linda Sanchez for Congress Rep. Linda Sanchez

#5.
Contribution Type: Contributor Name: Amount: Date:
FECA Self $500.00 03/17/2021
Payee: Honoree:
Jimmy Gomez for Congress Rep. Jimmy Gomez

#6.
Contribution Type: Contributor Name: Amount: Date:
FECA Self $500.00 03/22/2021
Payee: Honoree:
David Cicilline for Congress Rep. David Cicilline

#7.
Contribution Type: Contributor Name: Amount: Date:
FECA Self $500.00 03/23/2021
Payee: Honoree:
Sean Patrick Maloney for Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney
Congress

#8.
Contribution Type: Contributor Name: Amount: Date:
FECA Self $1,000.00 03/29/2021
Payee: Honoree:
Catherine Cortez Masto for Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto
Senate

#9.
Contribution Type: Contributor Name: Amount: Date:
FECA Self $1,000.00 04/06/2021
Payee: Honoree:
Pete Aguilar for Congress Rep. Pete Aguilar

#10.
Contribution Type: Contributor Name: Amount: Date:
FECA Self $1,000.00 04/13/2021
Payee: Honoree:
Teresa Leger Fernandez for Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez
Congress

#11.
Contribution Type: Contributor Name: Amount: Date:
FECA Self $1,000.00 04/21/2021
Payee: Honoree:
Melanie Stansbury for Congress Candidate Melanie Stansbury

#12.
Contribution Type: Contributor Name: Amount: Date:
FECA Self $1,000.00 04/30/2021
Payee: Honoree:
Ben Ray Lujan for Senate Sen. Ben Ray Lujan

#13.
Contribution Type: Contributor Name: Amount: Date:
FECA Self $1,000.00 05/01/2021
Payee: Honoree:
Raul Ruiz for Congress Rep. Raul Ruiz

#14.
Contribution Type: Contributor Name: Amount: Date:
FECA Self $250.00 05/11/2021
Payee: Honoree:
Chrissy Houlahan for Congress Rep. Chrissy Houlahan

#15.
Contribution Type: Contributor Name: Amount: Date:
FECA Self $500.00 05/17/2021
Payee: Honoree:
Grace Napolitano for Congress Rep. Grace Napolitano

#16.
Contribution Type: Contributor Name: Amount: Date:
FECA Self $1,000.00 05/28/2021
Payee: Honoree:
Bob Menendez for Senate Sen. Bob Menendez

#17.
Contribution Type: Contributor Name: Amount: Date:
FECA Self $500.00 06/09/2021
Payee: Honoree:
Lucille Roybal Allard for Rep. Lucille Roybal Allard
Congress

#18.
Contribution Type: Contributor Name: Amount: Date:
 FECA Self $1,000.00 06/14/2021
Payee: Honoree:
Alex Padilla for Senate Sen. Alex Padilla

#19.
Contribution Type: Contributor Name: Amount: Date:
FECA Self $1,000.00 06/23/2021
Payee: Honoree:
Linda Sanchez for Congress Rep. Linda Sanchez

C OMMENTS

C ERTIFICATION AND S IGNATURE

I certify that I have read and am familiar with the provisions of the Standing Rules of the Senate and the Standing
rules of the House of Representatives relating to the provision of gifts and travel. I have not provided, requested or
directed a gift, including travel, to a Member of Congress or an officer or employee of either House of Congress with
knowledge that receipt of the gift would violate rule XXXV of the Standing Rules of the Senate or rule XXV of the Rules
of the House of Representatives during this filing period.
Digitally Signed By:
Catherine Pino, 7/29/2021 11:20:08 AM
4/6/23, 4:32 PM LD-203 Contribution Report
Exhibit D

L OB B YIN G C ON T R IB U T ION R E P OR T
Clerk of the House of Representatives • Legislative Resource Center • B-106 Cannon Building • Washington, DC 20515

Secretary of the Senate • Office of Public Records • 232 Hart Building • Washington, DC 20510

F ILER T YPE AND N AME I DENTIFICATION N UMBERS

Type: House Registrant ID:
Organization Lobbyist 37994

Lobbyist Name: Senate Registrant ID:

Ms. Catherine M Pino, 304554

Employer Name:
D&P Creative Strategies, LLC

R EPORTING P ERIOD
Year:
2021
Mid-Year (January 1 - June 30)
Year-End (July 1 - December 31)
Amendment

P OLITICAL A CTION C OMMITTEE N AMES

PODER PAC

C ONTRIBUTIONS
No Contributions

#1.
Contribution Type: Contributor Name: Amount: Date:
FECA Self $1,000.00 07/26/2021
Payee: Honoree:
Sylvia Garcia for Congress Rep. Sylvia Garcia

#2.
Contribution Type: Contributor Name: Amount: Date:
FECA Self $1,000.00 07/27/2021
Payee: Honoree:
Kyrsten Sinema for Senate Sen. Kyrsten Sinema

#3.
Contribution Type: Contributor Name: Amount: Date:
FECA Self $500.00 09/20/2021
Payee: Honoree:
Veronica Escobar for Congress Rep. Veronica Escobar

https://disclosurespreview.house.gov/lc/lcxmlrelease/2021/YY/701015861.xml 1/3
4/6/23, 4:32 PM LD-203 Contribution Report

#4.
Contribution Type: Contributor Name: Amount: Date:
FECA Self $1,000.00 09/21/2021
Payee: Honoree:
Nancy Pelosi for Congress Speaker Nancy Pelosi

#5.
Contribution Type: Contributor Name: Amount: Date:
FECA Self $500.00 10/07/2021
Payee: Honoree:
Judy Chu for Congress Rep. Judy Chu

#6.
Contribution Type: Contributor Name: Amount: Date:
FECA Self $1,000.00 10/25/2021
Payee: Honoree:
Linda Sanchez for Congress Rep. Linda Sanchez

#7.
Contribution Type: Contributor Name: Amount: Date:
FECA Self $1,000.00 11/01/2021
Payee: Honoree:
Lucille Roybal Allard for Congress Rep. Lucille Roybal Allard

#8.
Contribution Type: Contributor Name: Amount: Date:
FECA Self $1,000.00 11/18/2021
Payee: Honoree:
Jimmy Gomez for Congress Rep. Jimmy Gomez

#9.
Contribution Type: Contributor Name: Amount: Date:
FECA Self $1,000.00 12/06/2021
Payee: Honoree:
Sharice Davids for Congress Rep. Sharice Davids

#10.
Contribution Type: Contributor Name: Amount: Date:
FECA Self $1,000.00 12/17/2021
Payee: Honoree:
Teresa Leger Fernandez for Congress Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez

#11.
Contribution Type: Contributor Name: Amount: Date:
FECA Self $1,000.00 12/31/2021
Payee: Honoree:
Ritchie Torres for Congress Rep. Ritchie Torres

#12.
Contribution Type: Contributor Name: Amount: Date:
FECA Self $500.00 12/31/2021
https://disclosurespreview.house.gov/lc/lcxmlrelease/2021/YY/701015861.xml 2/3
4/6/23, 4:32 PM LD-203 Contribution Report

Payee: Honoree:
Daniel Hernandez for Congress Candidate Daniel Hernandez

C OMMENTS

C ERTIFICATION AND S IGNATURE

I certify that I have read and am familiar with the provisions of the Standing Rules of the Senate and the Standing rules of the House
of Representatives relating to the provision of gifts and travel. I have not provided, requested or directed a gift, including travel, to a
Member of Congress or an officer or employee of either House of Congress with knowledge that receipt of the gift would violate rule
XXXV of the Standing Rules of the Senate or rule XXV of the Rules of the House of Representatives during this filing period.
Digitally Signed By:
Catherine Pino, 1/28/2022 1:26:31 PM

https://disclosurespreview.house.gov/lc/lcxmlrelease/2021/YY/701015861.xml 3/3