Did Mike Collins's office improperly pay Caroline Craze as an intern?
A congressional watchdog questions whether Caroline Craze's intern work matched her pay. Mike Collins's lawyer defends the payments, while Collins rejects the complaint and Jon Ossoff accuses him of misusing public money.
Claim in dispute
Collins improperly used public money to pay his staffer's girlfriend.
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
The Office of Congressional Conduct found substantial reason to believe that Collins's office paid Caroline Craze for work that was not commensurate with her compensation and recommended further review. Its report documents payments totaling $10,288.44 across late-2023 and late-2024 internship periods. It also acknowledges evidence of limited work, so it does not support a categorical statement that Craze did nothing. Official report, pages 14 and 19-21 (opens in a new tab)
Counsel Russell D. Duncan argues that the temporary hiring was proper and that Craze provided communications and other office assistance throughout both years. His December 31, 2025 response says the payments recognized those services. The House Ethics Committee announced further review on January 5 and cautioned that its action was not a finding of a violation. Defense letter (opens in a new tab), Committee announcement (opens in a new tab)
Ossoff raised the payments during the October 8 Senate debate. Collins denied the allegation and called the complaint bogus. The verified official proceeding is congressional ethics review; Ossoff's description of a federal investigation should not be read as evidence of a Justice Department criminal investigation. Debate transcript (opens in a new tab)
This case asks whether the intern compensation was proper. Other allegations about Collins, his staff or his family do not establish whether these payments complied with House rules.
People in this case
- Mike CollinsDirectly involved
Jon OssoffDirectly involved
Timeline
4 timeline entries on this page. Dates: September 24, 2025 to October 9, 2026
September 2025
1 event
Conduct board adopts the referral recommendation
The congressional conduct board votes unanimously to recommend further review of allegations about Collins's office resources and intern compensation.
[01]Office of Congressional Conduct report and findings concerning Mike Collins
The report recommends further review of office-resource use and intern compensation. It describes limited work by the intern and unresolved questions about whether her work matched her compensation.
Office of Congressional Conduct report and findings concerning Mike CollinsReview 25-7636; pages 1-2, 14, 19-21, 35-37
98 days between recorded events
December 2025
1 event
Collins's counsel defends the intern payments
Reaction
In a letter to the Ethics Committee, Russell D. Duncan argues that the temporary hiring was proper and that the intern provided communications and other office work.
[02]Mike Collins's response to the congressional conduct referral through counsel
Authorized counsel argues the temporary hiring was proper and the intern provided communications and other office assistance.
Mike Collins's response to the congressional conduct referral through counselDecember 31, 2025 letter, page 2, defense of the intern's work and compensation
January 2026
1 event
Ethics Committee releases the report and announces further review
Source release
The Committee releases the conduct report and Collins's response, announces further review and cautions that its action does not itself establish a violation.
[01]Office of Congressional Conduct report and findings concerning Mike Collins
The report recommends further review of office-resource use and intern compensation. It describes limited work by the intern and unresolved questions about whether her work matched her compensation.
Office of Congressional Conduct report and findings concerning Mike CollinsReview 25-7636; pages 1-2, 14, 19-21, 35-37[02]Mike Collins's response to the congressional conduct referral through counsel
Authorized counsel argues the temporary hiring was proper and the intern provided communications and other office assistance.
Mike Collins's response to the congressional conduct referral through counselDecember 31, 2025 letter, page 2, defense of the intern's work and compensation[03]House Ethics Committee announces further review of Mike Collins referral
The Committee announces further review and states that its action does not itself establish a violation.
House Ethics Committee announces further review of Mike Collins referralCommittee Rule 18(a) review announcement and caution about findings
277 days between recorded events
October 2026
1 event
Ossoff and Collins dispute the payments at the Senate debate
Reaction
During the October 8 Georgia Senate debate, Ossoff accuses Collins of misusing public money. Collins calls the ethics complaint bogus.
[04]Atlanta News First transcript of the Ossoff-Collins Senate debate
The broadcaster's transcript records Collins's denial, Ossoff's accusation about office payments and Ossoff's separate proposal for federal Flock privacy rules.
Atlanta News First transcript of the Ossoff-Collins Senate debateFirst-segment stewardship-of-tax-dollars exchange; second-segment federal privacy question
Claims
Claims separate what was said from what is contested. Follow each source for the original wording and context.
What's disputed
Disputed claim
Collins improperly used public money to pay his staffer's girlfriend.
Sources (2)
- Atlanta News First transcript of the Ossoff-Collins Senate debateFirst-segment stewardship-of-tax-dollars exchange; second-segment federal privacy question
- Office of Congressional Conduct report and findings concerning Mike CollinsReview 25-7636; pages 1-2, 14, 19-21, 35-37
Response record
Responses
Latest recorded positions: 2. Dates: October 9, 2026
Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.
2 responses on this page
Jon OssoffU.S. senator from Georgia and Democratic Senate candidate, speaking at the debateDirectly involved"illegal misuse of tax dollars"
CondemnedResponding to: Collins improperly used public money to pay his staffer's girlfriend.
Read more
Ossoff accuses Collins of improperly using public money for the staffer's girlfriend.
Before the statement
Ossoff responds during the first-segment exchange about stewardship of tax dollars.
After the statement
He questions Collins's cooperation with the congressional inquiry. The established proceeding is congressional ethics review, not a verified Justice Department investigation.
Atlanta News First transcript of the Ossoff-Collins Senate debateFirst-segment stewardship-of-tax-dollars exchange; second-segment federal privacy questionWhy this label?
The matter under scrutiny is the intern compensation. Ossoff calls the payments illegal misuse, expressly criticizing the conduct. The accusation is his, not a finding by DI.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Mike CollinsU.S. representative and Republican Senate candidate from Georgia, speaking at the debateDirectly involved"That ethics complaint is bogus."
DeniedResponding to: Collins improperly used public money to pay his staffer's girlfriend.
Read more
Collins rejects the ethics complaint.
Before the statement
Ossoff accuses him of improperly using public funds for the staffer's girlfriend.
After the statement
Collins argues that the complaint is being used for election purposes and asks the Ethics Committee to clear his name.
Atlanta News First transcript of the Ossoff-Collins Senate debateFirst-segment stewardship-of-tax-dollars exchange; second-segment federal privacy questionWhy this label?
Collins denies the allegation by rejecting the complaint as bogus. His later description of it as a nothing burger also minimizes it, but the explicit denial is the clearer response to the alleged misuse.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(4)
Official statement
Office of Congressional Conduct report and findings concerning Mike Collins
Relevant passage: Review 25-7636; pages 1-2, 14, 19-21, 35-37
About this source
The report recommends further review of office-resource use and intern compensation. It describes limited work by the intern and unresolved questions about whether her work matched her compensation.
- Author
- Office of Congressional Conduct
- Published
- Accessed
Original text
Atlanta News First transcript of the Ossoff-Collins Senate debate
Relevant passage: First-segment stewardship-of-tax-dollars exchange; second-segment federal privacy question
About this source
The broadcaster's transcript records Collins's denial, Ossoff's accusation about office payments and Ossoff's separate proposal for federal Flock privacy rules.
- Author
- Atlanta News First staff
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
House Ethics Committee announces further review of Mike Collins referral
Relevant passage: Committee Rule 18(a) review announcement and caution about findings
About this source
The Committee announces further review and states that its action does not itself establish a violation.
- Author
- House Committee on Ethics
- Published
- Accessed
Original text
Mike Collins's response to the congressional conduct referral through counsel
Relevant passage: December 31, 2025 letter, page 2, defense of the intern's work and compensation
About this source
Authorized counsel argues the temporary hiring was proper and the intern provided communications and other office assistance.
- Author
- Russell D. Duncan
- Published
- Accessed
Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Did Mike Collins's office improperly pay Caroline Craze as an intern?
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/cases/mike-collins-caroline-craze-intern-payments-ethics
The Dispute Index. "Did Mike Collins's office improperly pay Caroline Craze as an intern?". First published: 2026-10-09. Last updated: 2026-10-09. https://disputeindex.com/cases/mike-collins-caroline-craze-intern-payments-ethics