House Investigative Committee Convenes to Probe 'Checkgate' Controversy

Lawmakers and witnesses testify on campaign checks distributed on House floor

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The House Special Investigative Committee has begun its work to investigate the distribution of campaign checks on the House floor during the opening day of the 2026 legislative session in Wyoming. The committee will hear testimony from lawmakers, activist Rebecca Bextel, donor Don Grasso, and a reporter from the Open Range Record over the course of the day-long hearing.

Why it matters

The 'checkgate' controversy has raised concerns about potential ethics violations and undue influence in the state legislature. The investigation aims to determine the full scope of the incident and whether any rules or laws were broken.

The details

According to reports, conservative activist Rebecca Bextel distributed campaign checks from donor Don Grasso to 10 state lawmakers, all of whom have ties to the Wyoming Freedom Caucus, on the House floor on the first day of the 2026 legislative session. Four of the lawmakers - Reps. John Bear, Darin McCann, Speaker Chip Neiman, and Rep. Joe Webb - have publicly confirmed receiving the checks. The House unanimously voted to form the special investigative committee earlier this month to look into the matter.

  • The House Special Investigative Committee convened on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
  • The hearing was scheduled to last until 8 p.m. local time.

The players

Rebecca Bextel

A Jackson conservative activist who distributed campaign checks from donor Don Grasso to 10 state lawmakers on the House floor.

Don Grasso

The Teton County donor who provided the campaign checks that Bextel distributed to lawmakers.

Chip Neiman

The Republican Speaker of the Wyoming House of Representatives.

Open Range Record

A news outlet co-owned by Rebecca Bextel.

Wyoming Freedom Caucus

A conservative political group in the state legislature that the 10 lawmakers who received checks have ties to.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The House Investigative Committee is scheduled to continue its hearing on Friday, February 27, 2026 to further investigate the 'checkgate' controversy.

The takeaway

This investigation highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability around campaign finance and ethics rules in the Wyoming legislature. The distribution of checks on the House floor raises concerns about undue influence and potential violations of legislative rules or state laws.