On Thursday, the House Ethics Committee released communications that were sent by Rep. Rashida Tlaib, in which the lawmaker requested funds from her congressional campaign for her own personal expenses. This is a possible violation of federal law.

The emails and texts released by the committee reveal Tlaib was communicating with her staff members for help with her personal finances.

In one of the emails written by Tlaib in April 2018, she wrote that she was “struggling financially right now” and she was “sinking.” She wrote, “So I was thinking the campaign could loan me money, but Ryan said that the committee could actually pay me. I was thinking a one time payment of $5k.”

Another email dated April 4, 2018, Tlaib penned, “I am just not going to make it through the campaign without a stipend.”

“With the loss of a second income to lean back on. I am requesting $2,000 per two weeks but not exceeding $12,000. The cost of living stipend is going towards much needed expenses due to campaigning that includes car maintenance, child care and other necessities. Please let me know if I can proceed,” she wrote.

Four months later, Ryan Anderson, her future chief of staff, received a text message from Tlaib at 6:38 a.m.: “Sorry for the early text but do you think the campaign can still pay me a stipend until the general. Trying to get out of debt.”

“I think we definitely afford to do so. But we need to really clearly define your time and space,” Anderson replied, pointing out that the arrangement could cause some “concern” among the media.

Tlaib’s attorney claims there isn’t any evidence that shows Tlaib violated the law intentionally.

A release from the Board of the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) states that Tlaib’s campaign committee allegedly “reported campaign disbursements that may not be legitimate and verifiable campaign expenditures attributable to bona fide campaign or political purposes.” If Tlaib “converted campaign funds from Rashida Tlaib for Congress to personal use, or if Tlaib’s campaign committee expended funds that were not attributable to bona fide campaign or political purposes, then Tlaib may have violated House rules, standards of conduct, and federal law.”

“The Board recommends that the Committee further review the above allegation concerning Rep. Tlaib because there is substantial reason to believe that Rep. Tlaib converted campaign funds from Rashida Tlaib for Congress to personal use or Rep. Tlaib’s campaign committee expended funds that were not attributable to bona fide campaign or political purposes,” the document states.

Federal Election Commission filings show Tlaib paid herself a total of $17,500 from her campaign account in 2019, during her first term. Under federal regulations, candidates may draw a salary during the campaign period for work performed through the date of the general election. Tlaib’s disbursements were made on November 16 for $2,000 and December 1 for $15,500. Tlaib received other payments before the election totalling $28,000.