Aug. 28—WILKES-BARRE — End Citizens United, which bills itself as an anti-corruption organization, filed the ethics complaint with the Office of Congressional Conduct against U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan, R-Dallas Township. The complaint centers on Rep. Bresnahan’s failure to disclose ownership of a helicopter.
“Representative Bresnahan is showing clear patterns of shady and corrupt behavior,” said Tiffany Muller, End Citizens United president, in a news release. “From hiding a million-dollar helicopter to becoming one of the most prolific stock traders in Congress, his conduct raises serious questions about his honesty and ethics. Failure to disclose an asset of this magnitude is a major breach of trust with voters and a serious violation of federal law. We urge the Office of Congressional Conduct to launch an investigation and hold Representative Bresnahan accountable.”
Bresnahan’s staff refutes the claim.
Hannah Pope, Rep. Bresnahan’s communications director, issued a statement on behalf of the Congressman.
“This is a pathetic attempt by one of the most notorious liberal dark money groups to attack Rob for being a pilot, and it’s purely political,” Pope said. “What’s next, attacking President Trump for Trump Force One? These attempted smear jobs are exactly why voters across America have thrown liberals out of office because they see right through them.”
The helicopter story was first reported on Aug. 8, by NOTUS — News of the United States — a nonprofit, nonpartisan publication that is a product of the Allbritton Journalism Institute.
The complaint
In late 2024, RPB Ventures LLC purchased a 2024 Robinson R66 helicopter now based in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
The helicopter’s value is estimated between $1-1.5 million.
The complaint states:
“According to Rep. Bresnahan’s 2024 annual financial disclosure report, filed on Aug. 13, 2025, Rep. Bresnahan serves as the Managing Member of RPB Ventures LLC and ownership of the helicopter is not disclosed under the RPB Ventures LLC investment vehicle. The financial disclosure covers all transactions and owned property from the full 2024 calendar year, covering the date of the helicopter purchase. Hannah Pope, a spokesperson for Rep. Bresnahan, confirmed the Congressman’s ownership of the helicopter.
“Any campaign travel by Rep. Bresnahan using the helicopter would require the filing of an in-kind contribution from RPB Ventures LLC. Despite efforts by Rep. Bresnahan to obscure the whereabouts of the helicopter by blocking public access to the helicopter’s travel history on several flight tracking websites, we know the helicopter has made over twenty flights, including to New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island. The helicopter made regular flights around Bresnahan’s district during the lead-up to the November 2024 General Election, and has, on at least three instances since May 2025, flown out of Pennsylvania. If any of these trips were for campaign related purposes, Rep. Bresnahan’s failure to report the in-kind contributions would be a violation of campaign finance laws.”
The complaint also states, “Federal law requires members of Congress to report ‘any interest in property held during the preceding calendar year in a trade or business, or for investment or the production of income, which has a fair market value which exceeds $1,000.’
“Federal campaign law also requires the filing of in-kind contributions from LLC’s and that ‘[a] committee report[s] the value of an in-kind contribution received from a partnership or LLC in the same way it reports a monetary contribution.’ This requirement applies to travel provided to a campaign at below market value.”
Bresnahan’s chief of staff, attorney respond
Pierce Frauenheim, Bresnahan’s Chief of Staff, provided a response to the complaint.
“The Congressman has gone above and beyond to disclose all assets as required by law,” Frauenheim said. “A week after learning that a far-left PAC caused Rob and his wife to receive death threats on their wedding website, another far-left PAC is now demanding that Bresnahan go beyond what is required of him by House rules to make his whereabouts publicly known. That’s a dangerous game given the physical threats of violence already made against the Congressman by these far-left extremists who are literally calling for blood. Those engaging and amplifying this behavior should be ashamed.”
Jessica Furst Johnson, counsel to Bresnahan, also responded.
“First, please note that Congressman Bresnahan has operated, and will continue to operate, in full compliance with all applicable federal campaign finance and ethics laws.
“While the media would prefer that every personal detail of the Congressman’s entire life story be splayed across the personal financial statement for all to tear apart and question, that’s simply not the purpose of the document.
“Personal financial statements filed by Members of Congress and candidates are not intended to cover every detail of a person’s financial picture, or the businesses which they own.
“As a successful business owner and entrepreneur, Congressman Bresnahan has a variety of business interests. RPB Ventures, LLC is one such business, and the Congressman’s position with this business is reported on the Congressman’s personal financial disclosure.
“The helicopter is a business asset of RPB Ventures, LLC. Business assets are not personal assets, and thus not reportable in this particular instance.
“Therefore, as stated, it is not just incorrect, it is defamatory and an egregious lie to allege that Congressman Bresnahan violated federal law by failing to disclose an asset he does not personally own.”
Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.