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In a recent examination of Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings, an unusual pattern of campaign expenditure has been brought to light involving Republican Congressman Barry Moore, who currently represents Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District. As Moore seeks to transition to District 1, aiming to unseat incumbent Congressman Jerry Carl, scrutiny over Moore’s campaign’s financial activities has come under renewed focus.
APR emailed a request for an explanation to Moore’s campaign and was promised an email reply but never received an answer.
Records indicate that shortly after assuming office in 2020, Moore’s campaign disbursed $20,000 to AAA Storage in Enterprise, a business owned by his cousin, Howard Moore. However, discrepancies arise as the address listed for AAA Storage in the FEC filings does not match the company’s headquarters address. Instead, it is a mere 0.2 miles away, both situated on land owned by Moore’s parents, Billy and Shelbie Moore, who are also Howard Moore’s aunt and uncle, raising further questions about family entanglement and ties in this financial web.
The FEC documents reveal that Moore’s campaign has made payments totaling $38,343.94 to his cousin’s storage business. This includes monthly payments of $950 from April 2023, with a singular lapse in August. These payments ostensibly covered the rental of approximately 10 storage units, cumulatively offering 3,000 square feet of storage, a significant markup from the listed rate of $90.99 per month for a 10×30 unit at AAA Storage.
The pattern of expenditure extends to additional lump sum payments made in November and December of 2023. In the final quarter of that year alone, the campaign’s expenditure at AAA Storage amounted to $13,593.94.
This research into Congressman Moore’s campaign finances highlights the complexities and potential pitfalls of campaign finance, where personal and political interests intersect, underscoring the importance of transparency and accountability in political campaigning.
Update: Nearly 20 hours after requesting comment on the thousands Moore’s campaign paid to AAA Storage, his staff responded in a two-sentence statement, saying, “In addition to storing signs, they built the frames for the large 3×5 and 4×8 signs, delivered and set them up across the district, and will take them down after the campaign ends. It also includes the cost of buying the lumber.”
