President Donald Trump’s latest nominee to help run the nation’s largest public utility told lawmakers he leases a Washington townhouse for $1 annually to a nonprofit group engaged in “discipling government leaders.”
The revelation is part of Lee Beaman’s responses to questions from Environment and Public Works Committee lawmakers obtained by POLITICO’s E&E News. Democrats have called the businessman and Republican megadonor unqualified and alleged questionable behavior. A committee vote is scheduled for Wednesday.
Beaman’s responses — dated Dec. 3, the same day of his confirmation hearing to serve on TVA’s board — addressed the townhouse along with his involvement with a 2022 congressional campaign that is under investigation.
Investigative news outlet ProPublica describes Beaman’s townhouse as part of a “secretive D.C. influence project” and an apparent “group house for right-wing lawmakers,” reporting that House Speaker Mike Johnson and Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) have lived there. Johnson relocated in March this year.
