Profiles · OversightControversial
- Type
- Person
- Role
- Oversight and enforcement
- Programs
- PPP
- Updated
The profile
Chairman of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis (2020–2022), which issued the December 1, 2022 staff report "We Are Not the Fraud Police."
Individuals whose conduct was challenged or called into question during or after the pandemic. See sources: Scalise release, Oct. 19, 2022 Subcommittee hearing record, March 25, 2021
Identity & role
James Enos Clyburn (D-SC), Chairman of the Select Subcommittee (his House service and Majority Whip dates are not in any copy we have). He signed the May 27, 2021 document demand to Cross River (letter capture) and issued the December 1, 2022 majority-staff report with referrals to DOJ and SBA (release capture); the referral letter to DOJ's Kevin Chambers is cited to that release, whose capture does not name him.
Career arc
Not documented in any copy we have.
Pandemic relief oversight role
Chaired the Subcommittee across both Congresses (116th–117th). Under his name the panel opened the fintech-PPP inquiry: the May 27, 2021 document demands to Cross River, Celtic, Kabbage, and BlueVine; the November 2021 expansion to Blueacorn and Womply; and the December 1, 2022 majority-staff report plus its referral package to DOJ and SBA.
Lobbying & industry ties
No lobbying registrations (Member).
Political donations
- Clyburn's campaign was assessed an FEC administrative fine for failing to file 48-hour notices on $51,500 of contributions received Oct. 20 – Nov. 5, 2022 (FEC admin-fine matter 4561; we have a copy of the memo). The American Bankers Association BankPac contribution cited to the FEC committee page is not itemized on that page's capture.
- Stated as money received; no inference of any quid pro quo is drawn.
Where they are now (2025–2026)
The Subcommittee's records were inherited by the Oversight Committee. The Washington Post and CBS News reported in March 2026 that he would seek reelection. He won the Democratic primary on June 9, 2026, beating Frederick Goodwin, and faces Republican John Peterson in November (WRDW, "Clyburn wins Democratic nomination for U.S. House seat").
Sources held in this archive
Original source documents and archived captures
- House Select Subcommittee, report & referral materials Dec 1, 2022
- Clyburn letter to Cross River May 27, 2021
- FEC — American Bankers Association BankPac committee C00004275
- FEC — Clyburn 48-hour-notice administrative-fine memo Mar 27, 2023
Sources
- FEC — American Bankers Association BankPac committee C00004275: FEC — American Bankers Association BankPac committee C00004275 (original: fec.gov · stored capture)
- FEC — Clyburn 48-hour-notice administrative-fine memo (Mar 27, 2023): Administrative Fine Matter AF 4561, Friends of Jim Clyburn — Federal Election Commission (original: fec.gov · stored capture)
- House Select Subcommittee, report & referral materials (Dec 1, 2022): U.S. House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, "How Fintechs Facilitated Fraud in the Paycheck Protection... (original: coronavirus-democrats-oversight.house.gov · stored capture)
- Clyburn letter to Cross River (May 27, 2021): 2021 05 27 Clyburn To Cross River Re Fintech Ppp Fraud (original: coronavirus-democrats-oversight.house.gov · stored capture)
- OpenSecrets — Rep. James Clyburn summary (cid N00000537, mpid=1077339): https://www.opensecrets.org/profiles/james-clyburn/us_congress/summary?mpid=1077339
- Washington Post, "Rep. James Clyburn, former No. 3 House Democrat, will seek reelection" (Mar. 12, 2026): https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/03/12/jim-clyburn-reelection-decision/
- CBS News, "Rep. Jim Clyburn, 85-year-old South Carolina Democrat, running for reelection" (Mar. 2026): https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jim-clyburn-reelection-announcement-2026/ WRDW, "Clyburn wins Democratic nomination for U.S. House seat" (June 9, 2026): https://www.wrdw.com/2026/06/09/clyburn-wins-democratic-nomination-us-house-seat/ local copy