Kweisi Mfume
DemocratU.S. Representative, MD-7| Age | 77 (b. 1948-10-24) |
| Gender | Male |
| In office since | 1987-01-06 (~39 yrs) |
| Race / ethnicity | Black/African American |
| Religion | Christian (Baptist) |
| Education | B.S. from Morgan State University (1976); M.A. (international studies/liberal arts) from Johns Hopkins University (1984); attended Baltimore City Community College |
| Prior occupation | Radio host/program director, college instructor, civil rights leader (NAACP President/CEO 1996–2004), Baltimore City Council member |
| Military service | No |
| Birthplace | Baltimore, Maryland |
| Marital status | Married — Tiffany McMillan (Mfume) |
| Children | 6 |
| Residence | Baltimore, Maryland |
| Notable relatives | Wife Tiffany McMillan is the granddaughter of Enolia McMillan, the first female president of the NAACP |
Pending research: languages · openly lgbtq.
Career & politics
| First elected | 1986 |
| Previous offices | Baltimore City Council (4th district), 1979–1987 · U.S. House of Representatives, Maryland's 7th District, 1987–1996 · President and CEO, NAACP, 1996–2004 |
| Committees | House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Government Operations) · House Committee on Foreign Affairs (Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa; Subcommittee on South and Central Asia) |
| Caucuses | Congressional Black Caucus · Congressional Progressive Caucus · Congressional Equality Caucus · Black Maternal Health Caucus · Congressional Ukraine Caucus · Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus · Congressional Caribbean Caucus |
| Leadership | Chair, Congressional Black Caucus (1993–1995) · Chair, Joint Economic Committee (1994–1995) · Ranking Member, House Oversight Subcommittee on Government Operations (119th Congress) |
| Ideology | Reliably progressive/liberal Democrat; member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus; reported voting with President Biden's position essentially 100% of the time in the 117th Congress |
| Signature legislation | PPP and Bank Fraud Enforcement Harmonization Act of 2022 (H.R. 7352) — signed into law Aug 5, 2022, establishing a 10-year statute of limitations for PPP loan fraud · COVID-19 EIDL Fraud Statute of Limitations Act of 2022 (H.R. 7334) — signed into law Aug 5, 2022, establishing a 10-year statute of limitations for EIDL fraud · Strengthening Subcontracting for Small Businesses Act of 2022 (H.R. 7694) · Baltimore BRIDGE Relief Act (federal funding for Francis Scott Key Bridge rebuild) |
Financial
Net worth: estimate
| Allianz Index Advantage (annuity/index product) | fund · –$1,000,000 · 2023 |
| Investcorp (Investcorp Inc.) SEP account (incl. Victory Pioneer Fundamental Growth Fund Class A and Washington Mutual Investors Fund Class A) | fund · –$250,000 · 2023 |
Top donors: Public Sector Unions ($53,500) · American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) ($11,000)
Top industries: Public sector unions · Pro-Israel
Scandals & crimes ledger
settled — NAACP Internal Investigation and Civil Settlement — Sexual Harassment and Favoritism Allegations
While serving as president and CEO of the NAACP, an outside attorney was hired to investigate allegations that Mfume sexually harassed a female employee (who alleged she was passed over for raises and promotion after rebuffing his advance) and gave preferential treatment to women with whom he had personal relationships. A 22-page confidential memorandum dated July 13, 2004, found the claims could be 'very difficult to defend persuasively' if a lawsuit were filed. The NAACP executive committee secretly voted not to renew Mfume's contract, and the NAACP paid the complainant $100,000 to settle her threatened lawsuit (she had asked for $140,000). Mfume denied the harassment allegation but acknowledged having a relationship with a different subordinate, which he later called a 'boneheaded' mistake. He resigned in late 2004.