Darden Copeland has filed a formal complaint with the Office of Congressional Conduct asking the Board to investigate whether 7th District Congressman Matt Van Epps has used taxpayer funded staff to run his reelection campaign. Darden is the Democrat nominee challenging Van Epps for reelection.
Office of Congressional Conduct asking the Board to investigate whether 7th District Congressman Matt Van Epps has used taxpayer funded staff to run his reelection campaign. Darden is the Democrat nominee challenging Van Epps for reelection.
The complaint centers on Alexander S. “Alex” Joyner. On December 18, 2025, Van Epps’s official House office announced Joyner as Senior Advisor, describing his campaign manager role as finished. Joyner served as Van Epps’ campaign manager before this appointment. Nine months later,
on September 20, 2026, WZTV, Fox 17 News Nashville, identified Joyner, in the present tense, as Van Epps’s campaign manager, reporting his plans for an eight county tour.
House and campaign records show Joyner never came off the campaign payroll.
According to the House Statements of Disbursements and the campaign’s own filings, between January and June of this year, Joyner received $61,805.58 from taxpayers and $12,493.91 from the campaign — a total of
$74,299.49 in six months, drawing from both accounts in every single pay period. The
taxpayer paid share annualizes to roughly $123,600.
“Middle Tennesseans are working two jobs to keep up. Matt Van Epps has a staffer collecting two paychecks, one of them from us.” said Darden Copeland. “You cannot run a congressional campaign
on the taxpayer’s dime.”
“This is more of the same from Van Epps.” Copeland continued. “His last congressional campaign was funded by AIPAC, pro-voucher and private prison super PACs and now he is funding his campaign with taxpayer money. We must end this corruption coming out of Washington and it starts by replacing Matt Van Epps.” Copeland added.
“This is the same Marsha Blackburn playbook that’s already gotten negative publicity in Tennessee where politicians ask their staff to do campaign work. Republicans, Independents and Democrats all agree that this kind of grift is illegal and. unacceptable.”
