Chris Collins (New York politician)

Last updated

Chris Collins
Chris Collins official photo.jpg
Official portrait, 2013
Member of the U.S.HouseofRepresentatives
from New York's 27th district
In office
January 3, 2013 October 1, 2019

In February 2014, Collins introduced the Kids before Cons Act to prohibit the use of federal money to provide college education to convicted criminals in prison. An editorial in The New York Times said, "These ridiculous arguments are unmoored from both reason and reality." A 2013 RAND study of 30 years of research found that every dollar spent on inmate education saves $4 to $5 on re-incarceration. [84]

Collins supported Donald Trump's May 9, 2017, firing of FBI Director James Comey, saying "The Director of the FBI serves at the pleasure of the President. I respect President Trump's decision at the recommendation of the Attorney General." [85]

National security

Collins supported President Donald Trump's 2017 Executive Order 13769 restricting immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries. He stated that "I get a little frustrated with the folks who don't like Trump trying to make something into something it's not. So I'm just disappointed that we can't have a true and honest debate without someone inflaming the situation and claiming there's religious overtones." [86]

Taxes

Collins was one of only two House members from New York state (along with Tom Reed) to support the provision in Republican tax overhaul bill introduced November 2, 2017, eliminating personal deductions for state income taxes on federal tax forms. In response New York Governor Andrew Cuomo labeled the two lawmakers "the Benedict Arnolds of their time", claiming that the loss of the deduction would cost New York State taxpayers nearly $15 billion and do grave damage to the state. [87] Collins said that under Cuomo, New York is the highest-taxed, most regulated, least business-friendly state in the nation and urged Cuomo to cut the state's budget. [88] Asked if his donors were pleased with the House's tax reform plan so far, Collins said, "My donors are basically saying 'get it done or don't ever call me again.'" [89]

Comments about other politicians

In October 2009, Collins compared New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (who is Jewish) to Adolf Hitler, Napoleon, and the antichrist. Collins later apologized for his comments. [90]

On November 28, 2016, Collins made strongly negative remarks about Mitt Romney, who was being considered by President-elect Donald Trump for the position of Secretary of State. On the TV show New Day, Collins said, "What do I know about Mitt Romney? I know that he's a self-serving egomaniac who puts himself first, who has a chip on his shoulder, and thinks that he should be president of the United States." [91]

On February 10, 2017, Collins told Chris Cuomo on CNN's New Day that elected officials should not have to release their respective tax histories. This comment was made in response to the ongoing controversy concerning Trump's refusal to release his tax forms. [92]

In June 14, 2017, a left-wing domestic terrorist shot several GOP Congress members who were training for an annual Washington DC charity game that pits Democrats versus Republicans. In a reaction Collins blamed Democrats, saying, "I can only hope that the Democrats do tone down the rhetoric. The rhetoric has been outrageous in the anger directed at Donald Trump." [93] Shortly after making that comment, Collins noted that it was important for everyone, including himself, to tone down partisan rhetoric and "recognize that we are all one country and all proud Americans." [94] Collins also vowed to start carrying a gun with him "from this day forward." [95]

2018 criminal charges

Background

In August 2016, Collins became the largest shareholder in a company called Innate Immunotherapeutics. [96] In May 2017, House ethics investigators "began probing Collins for his role in recruiting investors to buy stock in Innate Immunotherapeutics after several complaints were filed." [97] Members of Congress are explicitly barred from trading stocks using insider information. [97] In October 2017, the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) said they had "substantial reason" to believe that Collins had improperly used his public office to benefit Innate, and had forwarded nonpublic information to other investors. [98] The OCE said Collins sent nonpublic information to investors about drug trials and that he visited the National Institutes of Health to discuss a drug's clinical trial, violating House ethics rules. [98] The House Ethics Committee did appoint a subcommittee to continue investigating Collins' case, but deferred action at the request of DOJ. [99] On August 8, 2018, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed a complaint in federal court on Collins and two other defendants for "illegal insider trading". [100]

Arrest

According to the federal government, on June 22, 2017, the CEO of Innate Immunotherapeutics sent an email to the company's board of directors, including Collins. The e-mail explained that an important drug trial for the company had failed. Collins allegedly received this news while attending a picnic at the White House and, upon seeing the email, immediately phoned his son and instructed him to sell shares in the company. According to the allegations, the sale allowed Collins and his family to avoid around $570,000 in losses. The shares eventually dropped around 90% once news about the drug trial became public. [68]

On August 8, 2018, Collins, his son Cameron, and the father of Cameron's fiancée, Stephen Zarsky, were arrested by the FBI and charged with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit securities fraud, securities fraud, and lying to the FBI. [66] [67] [101] Later that day, Speaker of the US House of Representatives Paul Ryan announced that he had removed Collins from his position on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. He also referred the matter to the House Ethics Committee. [66] [68] [102]

Resignation from Congress and guilty plea

December 2020 pardon granted by Donald Trump 2020-12-22 Trump padron for Christopher Carl Collins-collins christopher pardon 12.22.2020.pdf
December 2020 pardon granted by Donald Trump

On September 30, 2019, it was reported that Collins would change his plea to guilty [103] and resign his seat in the House on October 1, 2019. [104] [105]

His resignation, which was previously presented to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, became official on October 1 after it was presented on the floor of the US House of Representatives. [3] The same day, Collins traveled to a Manhattan federal courthouse and pleaded guilty to insider trading and lying to the FBI. [1] [2] Had Collins attempted to stay in Congress after pleading guilty, his role would have likely been very limited. Longstanding House rules state that a member convicted of a felony should not take part in floor votes or committee work until the House Ethics Committee reviews the matter. Although there is no constitutional rule barring a convicted felon from voting, McCarthy and the Republican leadership would have strongly discouraged Collins from doing so, and the House Ethics Committee has indicated in the past that convicted felons can be disciplined if they do take part in committee or floor votes. [106]

On December 9, 2019, Collins and the SEC agreed that Collins will "be permanently barred from acting as an officer or director of any public company". [107] In January 2020, federal prosecutors recommended that Collins receive the maximum prison sentence, nearly five years in prison. [108] On January 17, 2020, Judge Vernon S. Broderick sentenced Collins to 26 months in prison. He was scheduled to begin the sentence on March 17 but it was later delayed to April 21, [109] [110] June 23, [111] August 18, [112] and October 13 [113] due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. He began his sentence on October 13, 2020, at Federal Prison Camp, Pensacola. [114]

He received a pardon on December 22, 2020, from President Donald Trump in the last month of his presidency. [115]

2024 Florida congressional run

On July 2, 2023, in a text exchange with WGRZ reporter Scott Levin, Collins announced his candidacy for the seat representing Florida's 19th congressional district, with the anticipation of incumbent Byron Donalds pursuing another office in the 2024 elections. [116]

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Political offices
Preceded by Executive of Erie County
2008–2011
Succeeded by
Mark Poloncarz
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the  U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 27th congressional district

2013–2019
Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas former U.S. Representative Order of precedence of the United States
as former U.S. Representative
Succeeded byas former U.S. Representative