Goblin House
Goblin House
Area: Full Workup (one official, all sections) (eo_full_workup)
Filed: 2026-05-02T00:46:22.077Z
Source: External LLM via /handoff/congress (attempt #74119)
Resolved official: Hillary J. Scholten (entity #10913)
Ingest result: 42 facts · 40 sources · 2 silences · 2 contradictions · 9 voting_records · 5 skipped
Single super-prompt covering every per-official research area in one LLM call: donor mapping, silences, contradictions, telling votes, and constituency baseline. The LLM returns ONE JSON object; the ingest pipeline dispatches each section to its typed table independently, so a malformed or no-data section never blocks the rest.
{ "target_official": { "name": "Hillary J. Scholten", "bioguide_id": "S001221" }, "donor_mapping": { "facts": [ { "fact_text": "Scholten's 2019-2024 career fundraising totals $12,728,544, with top industry Retired at $1,237,079. Top contributor: American Israel Public Affairs Cmte at $135,936 ($125,936 individuals, $10,000 PAC). Second: J Street at $123,942.", "date_occurred": "2024-12-31", "confidence": "secondary", "source_url": "https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/hillary-scholten/summary?cid=N00044885&cycle=CAREER" }, { "fact_text": "Scholten's 2025 campaign raised $1,477,815.40, including $1,012,727.98 in individual contributions and $403,500 in PAC/committee contributions. She disclosed $375.7K in Q4 2025 fundraising with 69.5% from individual donors.", "date_occurred": "2025-12-31", "confidence": "primary", "source_url": "https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00711317/" }, { "fact_text": "From 2019 to 2024, Scholten received just under $350,000 from AIPAC and other pro-Israel PACs according to protest organizers. The Pro-Israel industry contributed $75,824 in the 2024 cycle alone. J Street, a progressive pro-Israel group, contributed $123,942.", "date_occurred": "2024-12-31", "confidence": "secondary", "source_url": "https://fightbacknews.org/articles/u-s-rep-hillary-scholten-runs-away-from-pro-palestine-demonstrators" }, { "fact_text": "Quiver Quantitative estimates Scholten's net worth at $607.4K (380th highest in Congress) as of February 2026, with approximately $221.4K invested in publicly traded assets. No individual stock trades tracked that raise conflicts of interest.", "date_occurred": "2026-02-01", "confidence": "secondary", "source_url": "https://www.quiverquant.com/news/Fundraising+Update:+Representative+Hillary+J.+Scholten+just+disclosed+$375.7K+of+new+fundraising" }, { "fact_text": "Scholten's 2024 cycle top contributors per Vote Smart: American Israel Public Affairs Cmte ($52,150), Miller, Johnson et al ($36,020), Fair Shot PAC ($23,200), National Education Assn ($16,600), State of Michigan ($16,595).", "date_occurred": "2024-12-31", "confidence": "secondary", "source_url": "https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/campaign-finance/191584/hillary-scholten" }, { "fact_text": "AFL-CIO gives Scholten a 90% score for 2025. CWA gives her 100% for 2025 and 100% lifetime. She voted with working people on the Budget Reconciliation, Rescissions Act, FY 2025 Budget Resolution, and NDAA rule votes.", "date_occurred": "2025-12-31", "confidence": "secondary", "source_url": "https://aflcio.org/scorecard/legislators/hillary-scholten" }, { "fact_text": "Top industries contributing to Scholten: Securities & Investment ($899,070), Democratic/Liberal ($727,583), Lawyers/Law Firms ($716,739), Leadership PACs ($686,519), Pro-Israel ($75,824).", "date_occurred": "2024-12-31", "confidence": "secondary", "source_url": "https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/hillary-scholten/summary?cid=N00044885&cycle=CAREER" } ], "connections": [ { "donor_entity_name": "American Israel Public Affairs Cmte", "relationship_type": "major_donor", "description": "2019-2024: $135,936 ($125,936 individuals, $10,000 PAC) — top career contributor. 2024 cycle alone: $52,150. Overall pro-Israel PAC contributions estimated at just under $350,000 since 2019. Scholten voted yea on 2024 Israel supplemental aid (H.R. 8034) and signed the discharge petition for the $95B foreign aid package. She took an AIPAC-affiliated trip to Israel in 2023.", "confidence": "secondary", "source_url": "https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/hillary-scholten/summary?cid=N00044885&cycle=CAREER" }, { "donor_entity_name": "J Street", "relationship_type": "major_donor", "description": "2019-2024: $123,942 ($121,633 individuals, $2,309 PAC) — second-largest career contributor. J Street PAC also accepts donations to Scholten via its platform. J Street is a progressive pro-Israel group that advocates for a two-state solution, distinct from AIPAC's approach.", "confidence": "secondary", "source_url": "https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/hillary-scholten/summary?cid=N00044885&cycle=CAREER" }, { "donor_entity_name": "EMILY's List", "relationship_type": "pac_donor", "description": "2019-2024: $91,155 ($61,155 individuals, $30,000 PAC) — third-largest career contributor. EMILY's List supports pro-choice Democratic women candidates.", "confidence": "secondary", "source_url": "https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/hillary-scholten/summary?cid=N00044885&cycle=CAREER" }, { "donor_entity_name": "National Education Assn", "relationship_type": "pac_donor", "description": "2024 cycle: $16,600. Education sector overall contributed $78,976.", "confidence": "secondary", "source_url": "https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/campaign-finance/191584/hillary-scholten" }, { "donor_entity_name": "American Federation of Teachers", "relationship_type": "pac_donor", "description": "Scholten has been endorsed by AFT Michigan and the Michigan Education Association PAC, reflecting strong labor backing. CWA score: 100% lifetime.", "confidence": "secondary", "source_url": "https://www.gongwer.com" } ] }, "silences": [ { "topic": "Scholten has refused to call for a Gaza ceasefire — signing an anti-de-escalation letter and receiving an 'F' grade (13%) from AJP Action, a pro-Palestinian scorecard", "expected_position": "As a Democrat in a D+10 district that includes significant Arab-American and Muslim communities, and as a progressive who emphasizes human dignity, Scholten would be expected to join the majority of her constituents calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.", "window_start": "2023-10-07", "window_end": "2026-05-01", "evidence_summary": "AJP Action gives Scholten an 'F' (13% score): 12% voting record, 20% on letters signed, 0% on co-sponsorships, 0% on statements. She signed an anti-de-escalation letter, signed a letter endorsing Biden's Gaza policies, did not sign ceasefire or conditioning-aid letters, and has never called for a ceasefire. She voted for $17.6B Israel aid, $26.38B Israel supplemental, affirmed Israel's right to exist, condemned 'from the river to the sea' as antisemitic, and opposed censuring Rep. Rashida Tlaib. Meanwhile she has been highly active: held packed town halls (1,000+ attendees), issued press releases on the OBBBA, agriculture bills, housing, and the Iran War Powers Resolution — proving she is communicative but chooses silence on ceasefire.", "primary_url": "https://ajpaction.org/democratic-scorecard/hillary-scholten/" }, { "topic": "Scholten postponed a scheduled June 16, 2025 town hall after her name appeared on a Minnesota shooter's list — critics noted she never rescheduled that specific in-person event", "expected_position": "After building a reputation for holding regular in-person town halls (including one with 1,000+ attendees in March 2025), constituents expected Scholten to either reschedule the cancelled event or address the security concerns transparently with a follow-up public appearance.", "window_start": "2025-06-16", "window_end": "2025-07-25", "evidence_summary": "Scholten postponed her June 16 town hall after learning her name was on a list tied to the killing of a Minnesota lawmaker. She stated 'out of an abundance of caution' and to avoid diverting law enforcement. Her next town hall in the summer series was on July 25 in Rockford, and she held a telephone town hall on August 20. She was active on other fronts during this window: she voted on H.R. 1 (July 3), issued a statement on the 'Big Ugly Bill,' and continued district work. The postponement itself was reasonable under the circumstances, but the gap between the March mega-town-hall and July reflects a shift toward smaller, controlled-format events (telephone town halls, Congressional Dialogue Series).", "primary_url": "https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5063370-michigan-lawmaker-postpones-town-hall-after-minnesota-shootings/" } ], "contradictions": { "claims": [ { "claim_text": "Scholten, a former DOJ immigration attorney and staff attorney at the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, voted for the Laken Riley Act on January 22, 2025. She stated: 'We have to have a common sense approach to immigration... it has to abide by the rule of law and respect the human dignity of all individuals.'", "claim_date": "2025-01-22", "claim_type": "statement", "source_url": "https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/politics/michigan-politics/immigration-debate-continues-in-michigan-as-laken-riley-act-receives-w-mich-democrat-support/69-ec95b769-2df7-44f3-878a-90d7bdf10d5c" }, { "claim_text": "The Laken Riley Act mandates detention based on arrest (not conviction) for nonviolent theft-related offenses, and allows state attorneys general to sue DHS. The Michigan Immigrant Rights Center — Scholten's former employer — criticized such policies, and civil rights groups warned the bill threatens civil liberties and denies bond even when immigrants have valid deportation defenses.", "claim_date": "2025-01-24", "claim_type": "disclosure", "source_url": "https://www.wvpe.org/2025-01-24/2-mi-dems-help-gop-send-first-immigration-bill-to-trumps-desk-against-some-heated-opposition" }, { "claim_text": "Scholten voted against the FY25 NDAA in June 2024, stating Republicans put 'an extremist wish list before our servicemembers' and that the committee bill 'would have had my support' before partisan amendments were added.", "claim_date": "2024-06-14", "claim_type": "statement", "source_url": "https://scholten.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-scholten-statement-partisan-defense-bill" }, { "claim_text": "Scholten voted for the $895 billion FY25 NDAA in December 2024 — the largest military budget in U.S. history — joining 81 Democrats and nearly all Republicans. Critics noted she simultaneously voted to 'suppress the death toll in Gaza' and 'codify an anti-LGBTQ policy.'", "claim_date": "2024-12-11", "claim_type": "vote", "source_url": "https://www.newsbreak.com/news/3724094168967-rep-scholten-votes-for-an-895-billion-us-military-budget-to-suppress-the-death-toll-in-gaza-and-to-codify-an-anti-lgbtq-policy-all-at-the-same-time" } ], "contradictions": [ { "claim_a_idx": 0, "claim_b_idx": 1, "type": "statement_vs_disclosure", "severity": "high", "narrative": "Scholten built her career as an immigration attorney at DOJ and the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, championing 'human dignity' for immigrants. She then voted for the Laken Riley Act — mandating detention without bond for nonviolent theft arrests — as one of only 46 Democrats (out of 212). Constituent advocacy groups accused her of voting 'with Republicans on legislation that punishes the immigrant community.' Her justification cited the murder of local woman Ruby Garcia and a 'common sense approach,' but did not reconcile how mandatory pre-conviction detention comports with her stated principle of respecting 'human dignity of all individuals.' Both sources are from independent outlets (WZZM13 and WVPE)." }, { "claim_a_idx": 2, "claim_b_idx": 3, "type": "position_evolution", "severity": "medium", "narrative": "Scholten voted against the FY25 NDAA in June 2024 citing Republican 'extremist' amendments, then voted for the final $895 billion NDAA in December 2024 — the largest military budget ever. While the final bill may have removed some of the most objectionable provisions, critics note it still contained anti-LGBTQ language and provisions suppressing reporting on civilian deaths in Gaza. Scholten's shift reflects the tension between progressive rhetoric on military spending and the institutional pressure to support the final defense authorization package." } ] }, "telling_votes": [ { "bill_id": "H.R. 1", "title": "One Big Beautiful Bill Act (budget reconciliation — Medicaid/SNAP cuts, tax reform)", "vote": "nay", "vote_date": "2025-07-03", "roll_call_url": "https://scholten.house.gov/media/press-releases/scholten-statement-house-passage-republicans-big-ugly-bill", "why_it_matters": "Scholten voted nay on a bill that passed 218-214, calling it the 'Big Ugly Bill' and citing that approximately 425,000 Michiganders would lose health care, 34,000 MI-03 residents on SNAP would be jeopardized, and household energy costs would rise by $400. Her district has 7.6% poverty. The AFL-CIO supported this vote. This was constituent_aligned: Scholten stood with working families, seniors, and veterans against the largest health care cut in American history.", "category": "constituent_aligned" }, { "bill_id": "H.R. 29", "title": "Laken Riley Act (mandatory detention for nonviolent theft arrests without conviction)", "vote": "yea", "vote_date": "2025-01-22", "roll_call_url": "https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/29", "why_it_matters": "Scholten was one of only 46 Democrats (out of 212 voting) to support mandatory detention of undocumented immigrants for nonviolent theft arrests — without requiring conviction. A former DOJ immigration attorney and Michigan Immigrant Rights Center staffer, Scholten cited a local murder case. Her vote placed her at odds with her professional background, civil rights groups, and the progressive wing of her party. Her district is 10.8% Hispanic with significant immigrant communities. This was a cross_pressure vote: her stated desire for 'common sense' immigration enforcement clashed with her career defending immigrant rights.", "category": "cross_pressure" }, { "bill_id": "H.R. 2550", "title": "Protecting America's Workforce Act (restoring collective bargaining rights for over 1 million federal workers)", "vote": "yea", "vote_date": "2025-12-11", "roll_call_url": "https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2550", "why_it_matters": "Scholten voted yea with 231 members (211 Democrats + 20 Republicans) to restore collective bargaining rights. The CWA scored this as voting with working people, and Scholten earned a 100% CWA score and 90% AFL-CIO score for 2025. Her district's working-class character and union presence in Grand Rapids manufacturing made this a clear constituent_aligned vote. The alignment is notable given her otherwise mixed record: she crosses party lines on immigration but holds firm on labor.", "category": "constituent_aligned" }, { "bill_id": "H.R. 8034", "title": "Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024 ($26.38B military aid to Israel)", "vote": "yea", "vote_date": "2024-04-20", "roll_call_url": "https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8034", "why_it_matters": "Scholten voted yea on Israel military aid as part of the $95B foreign aid package, stating it 'sends a strong, clear message that the United States will always support and stand with its allies.' AIPAC is her top career donor ($135,936). However, she also signed the discharge petition to bring the package to the floor and emphasized the $9B in humanitarian aid for Gaza. 37 House Democrats opposed the Israel portion; Scholten was among the 173 who supported it. The vote is donor_aligned: her top donor's top legislative priority.", "category": "donor_aligned" }, { "bill_id": "H.R. 22", "title": "Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act (documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote)", "vote": "nay", "vote_date": "2025-04-10", "roll_call_url": "https://scholten.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-scholten-votes-no-save-act-threatens-voting-rights-millions", "why_it_matters": "Scholten voted nay, calling it legislation that 'would make it harder for millions of eligible Americans to vote — especially women, service members, Native Americans, and rural voters.' She specifically highlighted that married women who changed their names would face barriers. The AFL-CIO opposed this bill. The vote was constituent_aligned: her district's 38.6% bachelor's degree attainment and diverse population would face disproportionate barriers under documentation requirements.", "category": "constituent_aligned" }, { "bill_id": "H.R. 4", "title": "Rescissions Act of 2025 ($9B in cuts: CPB, USAID, foreign assistance)", "vote": "nay", "vote_date": "2025-06-12", "roll_call_url": "https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4", "why_it_matters": "Scholten voted nay on the rescissions package that clawed back funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and USAID. The CWA scored this as voting with working people. The bill passed 214-212. Scholten's vote aligned with constituent interest in public broadcasting in a district with strong educational attainment. This was constituent_aligned.", "category": "constituent_aligned" }, { "bill_id": "H.R. 8035", "title": "Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024 ($60.8B military and economic aid)", "vote": "yea", "vote_date": "2024-04-20", "roll_call_url": "https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8035", "why_it_matters": "Scholten voted yea with 210 Democrats and 101 Republicans. The vote reflected Democratic foreign policy consensus. She crossed party lines to help Republicans pass a rule to bring the national security bills to the floor, showing institutional pragmatism. No donor tension — the vote is constituent_aligned with her district's support for NATO and democratic allies.", "category": "constituent_aligned" }, { "bill_id": "H.Con.Res.14", "title": "House Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Resolution ($4.5 trillion in tax cuts, $1.5 trillion in program cuts)", "vote": "nay", "vote_date": "2025-04-10", "roll_call_url": "https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-concurrent-resolution/14", "why_it_matters": "Scholten voted nay with the Democratic caucus. The CWA and AFL-CIO opposed this budget as threatening 'the financial security and well-being of millions of American workers.' Scholten's vote was consistent with her pro-labor record and her opposition to the OBBBA. This was constituent_aligned.", "category": "constituent_aligned" }, { "bill_id": "H.J.Res. 72", "title": "Resolution terminating emergency declaration and tariffs on Canada", "vote": "yea", "vote_date": "2026-02-11", "roll_call_url": "https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-joint-resolution/72", "why_it_matters": "Scholten voted yea to terminate Trump's tariffs on Canada. Canada is Michigan's largest trading partner, and tariffs on Canadian goods directly impact West Michigan manufacturers — including the auto supply chain and furniture industry (Herman Miller, Steelcase) that anchor her district's economy. The resolution passed 219-211 with 6 Republicans defecting. This was constituent_aligned: protecting her district's cross-border manufacturing economy.", "category": "constituent_aligned" } ], "constituency_baseline": { "baseline": { "district_summary": "Michigan's 3rd Congressional District encompasses West Michigan from Grand Rapids west to Muskegon and Grand Haven along Lake Michigan, including the urban core of Grand Rapids, suburban Kent and Ottawa counties, and agricultural communities. With approximately 779,539 constituents, the district is 72.4% White, 11% Black, and 10.8% Hispanic, with a median age of 35.8 — younger than the national average. Median household income is $78,245, well above the national median, with a 7.6% poverty rate and 69.0% homeownership. 38.6% hold a bachelor's degree. The economy is anchored by healthcare (Corewell Health, 25,000 employees), retail (Meijer, 10,340), advanced manufacturing (Gentex, Herman Miller, Steelcase), and higher education (Grand Valley State University). The district is car-dependent (74.1% drive alone) with a short 20.4-minute mean commute. Cook PVI rates the district D+10 (Likely Seat, shifted R+3 from prior cycle). Scholten is the first Democrat to represent Grand Rapids in Congress in nearly 40 years, winning in 2022 after the district was redrawn, and she faces competitive re-election battles in this historically Republican-leaning region.", "top_employers": [ { "name": "Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health)", "employees": 25000, "source_url": "https://www.jeffburkeassociates.com/blog/driving-grand-rapids-economy-a-guide-to-the-largest-employers/" }, { "name": "Meijer Inc.", "employees": 10340, "source_url": "https://www.jeffburkeassociates.com/blog/driving-grand-rapids-economy-a-guide-to-the-largest-employers/" }, { "name": "Gentex Corporation", "employees": 3900, "source_url": "https://www.jeffburkeassociates.com/blog/driving-grand-rapids-economy-a-guide-to-the-largest-employers/" }, { "name": "Herman Miller (MillerKnoll)", "employees": 3621, "source_url": "https://www.jeffburkeassociates.com/blog/driving-grand-rapids-economy-a-guide-to-the-largest-employers/" }, { "name": "Grand Valley State University", "employees": 3306, "source_url": "https://www.jeffburkeassociates.com/blog/driving-grand-rapids-economy-a-guide-to-the-largest-employers/" } ], "dominant_industries": [ { "naics": "62", "share": 0.22, "source_url": "https://www.signatureassociates.com/grand-rapids-office-market-remains-among-the-steadiest-in-michigan" }, { "naics": "31-33", "share": 0.24, "source_url": "https://www.signatureassociates.com/grand-rapids-office-market-remains-among-the-steadiest-in-michigan" }, { "naics": "44-45", "share": 0.12, "source_url": "https://www.signatureassociates.com/grand-rapids-office-market-remains-among-the-steadiest-in-michigan" }, { "naics": "61", "share": 0.08, "source_url": "https://www.jeffburkeassociates.com/blog/driving-grand-rapids-economy-a-guide-to-the-largest-employers/" } ], "recent_ballot_measures": [ { "name": "Michigan Proposal 3 (2022): Reproductive Freedom for All — enshrined abortion rights in state constitution", "year": 2022, "result": "passed", "margin": "56.7% Yes to 43.3% No statewide; Kent County and Ottawa County supported by strong margins", "source_url": "https://www.bridgemi.com/ballot-questions/michigan-proposal-3-supporting-abortion-rights-wins-big" }, { "name": "Michigan Proposal 2 (2022): Promote the Vote — expanded early voting and absentee ballot access", "year": 2022, "result": "passed", "margin": "59.9% Yes to 40.1% No statewide", "source_url": "https://www.bridgemi.com/ballot-questions/michigan-proposal-2" } ], "demographic_anchors": [ { "label": "Median household income", "value": "$78,245 (national: $37,585) — well above national median", "source_url": "https://legisletter.org/legislator/hillary-scholten-S001221/district" }, { "label": "Population (2024 estimate)", "value": "779,539", "source_url": "https://legisletter.org/legislator/hillary-scholten-S001221/district" }, { "label": "Homeownership rate", "value": "69.0% (national: 65.5%)", "source_url": "https://legisletter.org/legislator/hillary-scholten-S001221/district" }, { "label": "Median age", "value": "35.8 (national: 38.5) — younger; 30% of residents in 20-39 working-age bracket", "source_url": "https://legisletter.org/legislator/hillary-scholten-S001221/district" }, { "label": "Bachelor's degree or higher", "value": "38.6% (national: 33.7%) — above average educational attainment", "source_url": "https://legisletter.org/legislator/hillary-scholten-S001221/district" }, { "label": "Poverty rate", "value": "7.6% (national: 12.4%)", "source_url": "https://legisletter.org/legislator/hillary-scholten-S001221/district" }, { "label": "Unemployment rate", "value": "4.5% (national: 3.5%)", "source_url": "https://legisletter.org/legislator/hillary-scholten-S001221/district" }, { "label": "Cook Partisan Voting Index (2026 rating)", "value": "D+10 — Likely Seat; R shift +3 from prior cycle", "source_url": "https://legisletter.org/legislator/hillary-scholten-S001221/district" }, { "label": "Racial/ethnic composition", "value": "72.4% White, 11% Black, 10.8% Hispanic — diverse urban-suburban mix", "source_url": "https://legisletter.org/legislator/hillary-scholten-S001221/district" }, { "label": "Car-dependent commuting", "value": "74.1% drive alone; 1.4% use public transit; mean commute 20.4 min", "source_url": "https://legisletter.org/legislator/hillary-scholten-S001221/district" } ] } } }