Sen. Raphael Warnock, a Georgia Democrat, has come under fire for living rent-free in a $1 million luxury Atlanta home owned by Ebenezer Baptist Church, where he serves as part-time senior pastor. The church purchased the five-bedroom property in October 2022 for $989,000, and Warnock moved into it in 2023 as his primary residence, according to Georgia voter registration records . The custom-built home boasts high-end features like a 100-bottle wine fridge, Bluetooth-enabled appliances, and remote-controlled privacy curtains .
While Senate ethics rules may permit such arrangements for lawmakers receiving lodging from outside employers, critics note the hypocrisy of a church that aggressively evicted low-income tenants from its apartment complex over debts as small as $28 while subsidizing a politician’s lavish lifestyle . National Legal and Policy Center attorney Paul Kamenar called the situation “obscene,” arguing the IRS could deem Warnock’s tax-free housing benefit excessive given his part-time role .
The controversy highlights broader concerns about politicians benefiting from nonprofit organizations. Warnock previously received a $7,417 monthly housing allowance from the church before its property purchase . Meanwhile, Georgia’s senior Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff – a self-described housing affordability advocate – has remained silent about his colleague’s free luxury accommodations .
Chris Plante’s panel on NEWSMAX’s “The Right Squad” condemned the arrangement as emblematic of Democrat elites prioritizing personal privilege over their constituents’ struggles. The discussion contrasted Warnock’s “stunning European bathroom” and wine-stocked mansion with his church’s harsh eviction practices against vulnerable tenants . Critics argue this double standard exposes the left’s disconnect from working-class Americans they claim to champion.
