Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida sent $28,000 worth of taxpayer money to a limited liability company, a move that likely violates House rules, according to a new POLITICO report.

Gaetz, a vocal conservative and ally of President Donald Trump, sent thousands of taxpayer dollars to a company linked to speech-writing consultant Darren Beattie, who was formerly dropped from the Trump Administration after attending an event relating to white supremacy.

Gaetz’s aides claim it was a “clerical error,” as the House rules prohibit taxpayer dollars to be used for political consultants, speechwriters and communications advisors without congressional approval.

POLITICO reviewed the House’s disbursement report that revealed Gaetz making 14 separate $2,000 payments to Presidential Communications and Strategies, a company with a registration in Wyoming. The Republican congressman admitted to hiring Beattie as a speech-writing adviser, according to the report, but he was never recorded on Gaetz’s payroll. Instead, Gaetz compensated him through the Wyoming LLC.

“Although the contractual arrangement was approved by the necessary House authorities, a second review by the Finance Office determined that the services could not be contracted for in exactly that fashion, and our office is currently working through the best way to proceed with both Finance and the House Ethics Committee,” Gaetz’s chief of staff Jillian Lane Wyant told POLITICO.

“The funds were all immediately returned to the House as soon as the review determined this was not the right way to structure this. This is nothing more than a glorified clerical error - and while it is baffling that Politico should find this newsworthy - it is disappointing Politico plots to demean individuals who’ve made an innocent clerical mistake and are working to correct it,” Wyant said.

In another instance that could violate House rules, the report discovered Gaetz spent more taxpayer dollars on installing a television studio at his father’s home. The private company, who put in the studio, charges a fee each time he is featured on air, and Gaetz also has to rent the video camera - both transactions are supposedly covered by taxpayers.

The incident may go against the House gift rule that prohibits any lawmaker, staff member and their family members from welcoming gifts - this could be a monetary amount, good or service - worth more than $50. 

Gaetz’s staff claims the House Ethics Committee reviewed and approved both cases but could not provide solid evidence of this, POLITICO reported.

The Florida representative has been involved in other ethics troubles during his time on Capitol Hill, including another POLITICO report in April that Getz spent almost $200,000 in taxpayer money to rent an office space from longtime friend, associate and donor, where he paid below market value. 

Rachel Bucchino is a reporter at the National Interest. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, U.S. News & World Report and The Hill.