Overview
- Capital One filed a civil lawsuit in Dane County on May 26 alleging Hong owed $29,334.48 on a credit card account.
- Hong and her campaign say the balance came from pandemic-era restaurant expenses, call it an honest financial mistake, and state the debt has been paid in full with a letter confirming payment to be released.
- As of early June 5, reporters had not independently verified the campaign’s claim of payment and Capital One had not publicly answered requests for comment.
- Conservative outlets and commentators pressed questions about who paid the balance and circulated an unverified allegation of a possible conflict involving Judge Benjamin Jones, who is overseeing the case.
- Hong is a leading Democratic primary contender and the campaign’s promised confirmation, any court filings or a response from Capital One, and subsequent polling changes are likely to shape how voters view her candidacy before the August 11 primary.