Darrell Issa

Darrell Edward Issa (born November 1, 1953) is an American businessman and politician serving as the U.S. representative for California's 48th congressional district.

He represented the 50th congressional district from 2021 to 2023.

In 1970, on his 17th birthday, Issa dropped out of high school and enlisted in the Army.

Trained to defuse bombs, Issa has said that his unit provided security for President Richard Nixon, sweeping stadiums for bombs before games in the 1971 World Series.

Issa received a hardship discharge from the Army in 1972 after his father suffered a heart attack.

After that, he earned a General Educational Development (GED) certificate.

Twice that year, Issa was arrested.

In the first incident, a grand jury indicted him for theft of a Maserati, in a complicated scheme with his brother William, but prosecutors dropped the charge.

In the second incident, he was stopped for driving the wrong way on a one-way street, and a police officer noticed a firearm in his car's glove compartment; Issa was charged with carrying a concealed weapon.

He pleaded guilty to possession of an unregistered firearm and was sentenced to six months' probation and a small fine.

Issa has said he believes the record has since been expunged.

Issa majored in business administration at Siena Heights University, a small Roman Catholic college in Adrian, Michigan, completing his degree at the Stark campus of Kent State University.

While at Kent State, he enrolled in the Reserve Officer Training Corps; at graduation he was commissioned as a second lieutenant.

Issa served in the Army Reserve from 1976 to 1980, and was promoted to captain.

From September 9–26, 1980, Issa served on active duty while training with the 1/77th Armor Battalion as an Assistant S-1.

His evaluation report, by then-Lt. Col. Wesley Clark, read, "This officer's performance far exceeded that of any other reserve officer who has worked in the battalion" and "Promote ahead of contemporaries. Unlimited potential."

Shortly before his discharge from the Army in 1980, Issa was again indicted for grand theft auto.

The prosecution dropped the case in August 1980.

In 1981, Issa was in a car crash.

Issa served as CEO of Directed Electronics, which he co-founded in 1982.

It is one of the largest makers of automobile aftermarket security and convenience products in the United States.

With a net worth of approximately $460 million, Issa is the wealthiest serving member of Congress as of 2023.

A May 1998 investigation by Lance Williams of the San Francisco Examiner found that Nixon had not attended any 1971 World Series games, but that Issa's unit did perform security sweeps during the series.

First Lady Pat Nixon was present at Game 2 of the series, where she threw the first pitch.

After the series, Issa was transferred to a supply depot, a result of receiving poor ratings.

A member of the Republican Party, he previously served in the United States House of Representatives from 2001 to 2019, representing two districts primarily covering North County in the San Diego area, first the 48th district for one term and then the 49th district for eight terms.

From January 2011 to January 2015, he chaired the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

He became an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician assigned to the 145th Ordnance Detachment.

On January 10, 2018, Issa announced that he would not seek reelection to the House.

Democrat Mike Levin was elected on November 6, 2018, to become the district's next representative.

On September 19, 2018, President Donald Trump nominated Issa to be director of the United States Trade and Development Agency.

On September 26, 2019, Issa announced that he was running for California's 50th congressional district in the 2020 election.

He placed second in the March top-two primary, advancing to face Democrat Ammar Campa-Najjar in the November general election.

Issa defeated Campa-Najjar.

The second of six children, Issa was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Martha (née Bielfelt) and William Issa, who sold trucks and ground valves.

His father was the son of Lebanese Christian immigrants, and a member of the Maronite Catholic faith.

His mother is of German and Bohemian (Czech) descent and a Latter-day Saint.

During his childhood, the large family moved to a three-bedroom house in the predominantly Jewish suburb of Cleveland Heights.

Many of Issa's friends were Jewish, and he reportedly worked for a rabbi at one point.

He became very familiar with Jewish culture.