Mo. Rep. Akin failed to report state pension

"This was an unintentional oversight and I regret any inconvenience this may cause," the Missouri congressman wrote in a letter dated Tuesday to the chairman of the House Ethics Committee.

Akin's congressional office released copy of the updated reports Thursday after The Associated Press asked why he had not listed his retirement benefits. In his letter, Akin described the lack of information about his pension payments as a mistake that only recently came to his attention.

Members of Congress are required to file annual reports listing their income and assets. The guidance book provided to lawmakers specifically states that they should list pension payments from any source other than the U.S. government.

Akin and Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill, whom he is challenging in the Nov. 6 election, both receive pensions from their prior service in state government, as do three other members of Missouri's congressional delegation. Yet Akin was the only one of them who had not reported his pension payments.

His amended report shows Akin received $15,138 in annual pension payments last year and has received a total of $129,109 from his state pension since 2002. Akin is due a state pension because he served 12 years in the state House before winning election to Congress in 2000.

McCaskill, who previously served as Missouri auditor and a state House member, reported a pension payment of $40,031 last year. That was the most among Missouri's congressional delegation. Republican Sen. Roy Blunt, a former secretary of state, reported a state pension payment of $36,721; Republican Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer reported a state pension of $12,600; and Democratic Rep. William Lacy Clay reported a state pension of $8,787.