The New York Post reported on April 24, 2025 that Eugene Vindman’s campaign “shelled out $38,783 in what it labeled a “fundraising expense” last month at a Florida bookstore where his brother held signing events for his bestselling book….” Further, a look at the records filed with the Federal Election Commission indicate that “Books & Books was the only Florida-based company that received payments from Vindman’s campaign during the first quarter of 2025.” So unless there are some delayed payments that will appear in next quarter’s report, it appears unlikely that Books & Books was the location of a Florida fundraiser later that night. The most logical explanation for this expense is that Eugene Vindman spent almost $40,000 buying copies of his brother’s book. Perhaps this purchase (and others hidden elsewhere?) has something to do with why it is “bestselling.”
If the one Vindman uses copies of the other Vindman’s book as a gift to donors, this is a permissible expense…technically. But this is at the very least a “you scratch my back; I scratch yours” style arrangement. In other words, while probably (barely) legal, it stinks. Congressional offices are not moneymaking arrangements for extended families.
The voters of Virginia’s 7th District should be keeping a close eye for further ethical shortcuts. For instance, there remain real questions as to whether Vindman used 14 taxpayer funded trips to Ukraine — under State Department auspices — to do business development for the private defense company he founded with his brother. Interestingly, while he campaigned for Congress under the Anglicized first name “Eugene,” the literature for his defense firm lists him under his legal Ukrainian name “Yevgeny.” It is hard to avoid the conclusion that he is talented at presenting whatever a certain audience wishes to see.
This is Virginia. Here, appearances matter. The constituents of Virginia’s 7th District deserve better than a Congressman who appears more devoted to enriching his extended family (and rescuing their books from the bargain discount bin) than to representing the very real needs of Virginia families.
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