Detroit City Council President and former U.S. Rep. Brenda Jones accepted campaign contributions that violate state rules against pay-to-play activity, according to a review of campaign finance records and interviews with ethics experts. During her 2017 bid for reelection to city council, Jones accepted $5,500 in campaign contributions from then-First Independence Bank Chair and CEO Barry Clay, and an additional $4,000 in campaign contributions from First Independence Bank board member Douglas Diggs. The donations occurred as First Independence had a contract with the Detroit police and fire pension fund, of which Jones, as president of the city council, is a trustee. First Independence runs a loan program for the pension fund.

State rules cap campaign contributions from senior leadership of contractors with public pension funds at $350 per election. For the 2017 primary and the general election combined, then, the cap was $700.

Now, Jones is running in a competitive race against incumbent Rep. Rashida Tlaib. In 2018, Jones, who was first elected to Detroit City Council in 2005, was elected to serve out the remainder of Rep. John Conyers Jr.’s term in Congress after his early resignation. In the primary, she faced off against Tlaib, who bested Jones by just 900 votes and went on to win that race and claim the seat. The rematch will take place on August 4.

“The conduct certainly looks to me to be in violation of the relevant law,” said Duke Law professor James Cox, who has studied ethics and pay-to-play issues. “It strikes me as pretty blatant.”

Another First Independence Board member, Alan Young, contributed $800 during the 2017 cycle — $100 over the limit. The political action committee for the Clark Hill law firm, which is of counsel to the pension fund, donated $850 — $150 over the limit. Clay and Young also donated $500 and $250, respectively, to Jones’s 2018 congressional campaign. It is unclear whether federal campaign contributions apply to the state pay-to-play rules.

Mario Morrow, spokesperson for First Independence Bank, said in a statement to The Intercept on Monday afternoon that the bank would immediately review the payments. “Thank you for reaching out to First Independence Bank and bringing this matter to our attention,” he wrote. “We will formally review this issue immediately. We will also be contacting our board members to make sure that they are aware of the state and federal regulations. In addition, we will also seek counsel from our attorneys on what next steps need to be taken.”

Jones did not respond to requests for comment.