As former Editor of the Appalachian Observer in Clinton, Tennessee, (1981-1983), I applaud Appalachian Voices for helping expose this outrageous nomination to the board of the United States Tennessee Valley Authority of plutocratic bigot LEE BEAMAN, a car dealer and seller of alcoholic beverages in package stores. BEAMAN supports his putative pastor, STEVEN BERGER, who who has stated that he wants to beat Gay people with a baseball bat. In 1989, I attended a criminal trial in Washington, D.C. of similar bigots convicted of beatinbg Rod Johnson with a baseball bat in 1989.. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1989/11/18/2-convicted-of-assault-on-gay-man/62542673-0551-48e8-a26a-39c9194f8fe2/. Mr. Johneson survived and filed litigation against the tortfeasors triggering their parents; homeowners insurance policies. Footnote: Mr. Johnson was honored by the Washington Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance, along with his lawyer, Libda Delaney (same ceremony where my Gay rights client, Duane David Rinde, and I were honored for the Rinde v. Woodward & Lothrop equal discount benefits case.
Beaman’s TVA confirmation vote postponed in Senate panel
Questions raised about ownership of two Washington, D.C. homes rented to Congress members
The U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works has postponed a vote on GOP-megadonor Lee Beaman’s appointment to the Tennessee Valley Authority board. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
The TVA confirmation vote of former Nashville auto magnate Lee Beaman hit a wall this week amid questions about two Washington, D.C. rowhouses he owns and ties to embattled U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles.
The U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works was set to forward Beaman’s nomination to the full Senate until it ran into problems and was pulled from the agenda Wednesday.
Appalachian Voices, an advocacy group that opposes Beaman’s nomination, said in a statement, “The Tennessee Valley Authority is crucial to the wellbeing of people throughout the Southeast, managing everything from electricity rates and supply to flood control to river navigation, impacting millions of people. Lee Beaman is an unacceptable candidate for the TVA Board of Directors, and we’re hopeful that his removal from the agenda today is a sign that the committee is taking a closer look and will ultimately halt his confirmation process.”
Responding to a litany of questions about his political activity and properties in Washington, D.C., Beaman told members of the committee he bought the two houses totaling 6,500 square in D.C. in the name of Crockett Ventures and leased them to the nonprofit organization Ambassador Services International. The group is run by his pastor, Steve Berger, who has made inflammatory statements about LGBTQ people, saying he wants to beat them with a baseball bat. Berger accompanied Beaman to his initial hearing.
House Speaker Mike Johnson and Ogles, a Columbia Republican, are among the members of Congress believed to be living in the row houses, creating a conflict of interest for Beaman to serve on the Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors, senators said.
Beaman told senators in written responses to questions about the houses that he has no interest or control over the nonprofit organization, nor does he make decisions about who sub-leases from Ambassador Services International.
Democratic senators also raised the issue that Berger could be considered a lobbyist under federal law, creating another conflict of interest for the tenants and Beaman.
A transcript of senators’ questions and Beaman’s responses shows that Berger founded a “discipleship program in Washington, D.C. to educate, equip, and inspire statesmen to live with compassion and confidence during their time of public service.” In addition, it says Berger and his wife, Sarah, who co-founded the organization, are trying to “correct our country’s trajectory and bring back the godly principles our country was founded on” by ensuring that “believers follow Jesus with bold, courageous faith.”
Beaman told the senators he isn’t involved in the ministry’s operations.
Asked if he understands that Berger’s actions could constitute “lobbying activity” under federal law, Beaman said he isn’t involved in lobbying. Beaman added that he went through an extensive clearance process and entered an ethics agreement, in addition to promising to uphold the TVA Act to serve people in the federal utility’s seven-state region.
Beaman also was listed as campaign treasurer for Ogles for four months in 2022 as questions surfaced about his fundraising.
The House Ethics Committee found Ogles likely violated federal campaign finance laws, mainly by reporting an inflated personal loan of $320,000 to make his bid for office look stronger in 2022. Ogles initially said he raised $450,000 for the race, yet his first FEC report showed he brought in only $250,000.
Ogles amended campaign finance reports in May 2024 and acknowledged making a $20,000 loan to his campaign and saying the additional $300,000 was in a joint account he shared with his wife.
The ethics committee planned to subpoena Ogles to testify, but the matter has stalled since Johnson became House speaker, according to Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island.
Whitehouse told the panel a week ago that Beaman’s qualification to serve on the TVA board is that of a “Trump loyalist and 2020 election denier,” in reference to his support of President Donald Trump and claims that the presidential election of 2020 was stolen, a matter that has been debunked.
Whitehouse said Beaman signed a letter asking state lawmakers to appoint phony electors to overturn the election and noted he received a “Freedom Award” from Koch-backed Americans for Prosperity, which supports the fossil-fuel industry.
Beaman and Ogles haven’t responded to any requests for comment from the Lookout.
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