John James Faces Mounting Pressure Over Alleged Misuse Of Government Resources To Promote Campaign

Michigan Advance

August 26, 2025

U.S. Rep. John James is facing mounting criticism for allegedly using government resources to promote a campaign event.

An ethics complaint filed against the Shelby Township Republican, who is running for governor, cites a MIRS report that James’ office sent an advisory from a U.S. House email address, with the Congressional seal displayed at the top, for a backpack giveaway being hosted at Jimmy John’s Field.

Photos from the event, however, show the backpacks surrounded by signs for his campaign for governor.

A social media post from Jimmy John’s Field is watermarked with James’ office logo while showing the James campaign signs hanging on the wall behind the backpacks.

MIRS reports they were told by Hannah Osantowske, who serves as both James’ office and campaign spokesperson, that it was an official event and they would “not legally be able to cover any political issues.”

The complaint was filed by Joel Rutherford, former chair of the Michigan Democratic Party’s 10th Congressional District. It says the event “violates the trust of Michigan taxpayers by using their hard-earned money not for the public good – but for the private benefit of the already-wealthy Congressman John James.”

John Truscott, a former aide to Republican Gov. John Engler, told MIRS that it was “just beyond stupidity.”

“They not only did it with the signs being there, but then his spokesperson is working for the official office and the campaign,” Truscott said. “You can’t do that either.”

“The one thing you don’t want to do in a campaign is have self-inflicted wounds,” Truscott continued. “I mean, they’ve basically taken a gun and pointed at their own head with this kind of thing.”

A request for comment was made by Michigan Advance to Osantowske, but has yet to be returned.

Michigan election attorney Mark Brewer, former chair of the Michigan Democratic Party, told the Democratic Governors Association that the violation was not complicated to understand.

“[James] was illegally and unethically using federal government resources for campaign purposes in support of his run for governor of Michigan. It’s as simple as that,” Brewer said.

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