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☆ How corporate PAC money could end up in the personal coffers of Sens. JD Vance and Markwayne Mullin
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

At the same time, they've been taking tens of thousands of dollars in corporate PAC money — some of which may be ending up directly in the senators' bank accounts. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Between the 2022 election and the end of 2023, Vance has used $78,000 in corporate PAC contributions to repay campaign debts, while Mullin has done the same with $45,000 in corporate cash. Mullin did the same with 19 corporate PACs, including ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobile, and GlaxoSmithKline. He also promised not to take corporate PAC money during the GOP primary, only to reserve that pledge during the general election against Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan, who did accept corporate PAC money.

Persons: —, JD Vance, Markwayne Mullin, they've, Vance, Mullin, Sen, Ted Cruz, Elena Kagan, Cruz, Jordan Libowitz, Republican Sen, Ron Johnson of, Ron Johnson, Shawn Thew, who's, Tim Ryan, didn't, Vance's, Saurav Ghosh, Ghosh Organizations: Service, Sens, Indiana, Business, Texas Republican, Finance, FEC, Citizen, Washington, Capitol, Republican, Getty, Pro, Comcast, Intel, General Motors, Walmart —, ConocoPhillips, GlaxoSmithKline, GOP, Democratic Rep Locations: Ohio, Texas, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, AFP, Oklahoma, The Ohio, ExxonMobile

☆ Kyrsten Sinema is still sitting on over $11 million in campaign cash — and she could easily use it to fuel her post-Senate life
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

At the end of January, the Arizona senator reported holding nearly $10.6 million cash on hand in her campaign account and another $466,000 in her leadership PAC. AdvertisementNow, it's far from clear what will happen to those "resources" — Sinema's campaign did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment last week on the matter. There are a few different ways this could play out if Sinema decides to keep a "zombie PAC" running. Elizabeth Warren and Michael Bennet once introduced a bill to crack down on "zombie PACs." Advertisement"A lot of people use that to stay in the game because a leadership PAC is kind of a slush fund.

Persons: —, What's Sen, Kyrsten Sinema, Ruben Gallego, Kari Lake, Sinema, Arizonans, Saurav Ghosh, Ghosh, That's, Republican Sen, Rob Portman, Portman, Matt Dolan, Anna Moneymaker, he's, Kelly Ayotte, who's, Aaron Scherb, it's, She'd, she'd, Democratic Sens, Michael Bennet of Colorado, Elizabeth Warren of, Elizabeth Warren, Michael Bennet, Bill Clark, Bennet, she's, airfare, Jordan Libowitz Organizations: Service, Senate, Democrat, Democratic Rep, Business, Bloomberg, Republican, American Enterprise Institute, US, Republicans, Democratic, Daily Beast, Citizen, Washington, Commission, PAC Locations: Arizona, Ohio, New Hampshire, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Washington, Europe

☆ Trump and his favorite fundraising platform both face donor problems
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Brian Schwartz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

and "Donation not approved," but the people who send them all want the same thing: to halt the Republican political contribution platform WinRed from making any more automatic, recurring withdrawals from their accounts. According to campaign finance reports, WinRed processed $14,300 in political contributions from Elliot and her husband, Orin Elliot, between 2020 and the end of 2023. "Older folks are generally more vulnerable and they're often more easily taken in" by aggressive political fundraising appeals, according to Saurav Ghosh, director of federal campaign finance reform at the nonprofit watchdog Campaign Legal Center. "You see with former President Trump, that he's fundraising off his indictments. That refund rate was more than four times that of President Joe Biden's campaign and surrounding political apparatus at that time, according to the Times.

Persons: Matthew Hurtt, Hurtt, he's, Samie Elliot, Elliot, Orin Elliot, WinRed, Donald Trump's, Trump, Saurav Ghosh, Joe Biden's Organizations: Arlington, Arlington County Republican, Republican, Arlington VA, Hurtt, CNBC, Arlington County Republican Party, Federal, Commission, Republican Party, WinRed, The New York Times, Times Locations: Virginia, Arlington County, Arlington, Oklahoma, Hurtt's inbox, WinRed

☆ George Santos Reveals One Truth: It’s Easy to Abuse Campaign Finance Laws
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Rebecca Davis O Brien | More About Rebecca Davis O Brien | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Perhaps no federal officeholder in modern American history has been accused of ignoring, testing or breaking as many aspects of campaign finance law so flagrantly, in such a short span of time, as George Santos has. But his case, while sensational, illustrates the profound weaknesses of the system, and its potential for abuse. For years, campaign finance laws have eroded, while the watchdogs responsible for their oversight have been weakened by limited powers, underfunding and political stalemate. “He is an extreme example of something that is happening all the time in campaign finance,” said Saurav Ghosh, a former Federal Election Commission enforcement lawyer who is now the director of federal campaign finance reform at the Campaign Legal Center, a watchdog group. Mr. Santos, he suggested, was able to take advantage of “the overall under-regulation of money that is raised and spent on election influence.”

Persons: George Santos, Santos, ”, Saurav Ghosh Organizations: Commission

The bulk of the Trump PAC money went to law firms that have defended Trump against a series of criminal charges or in civil lawsuits. “Well, if the little fish’s lawyer is being paid by the big fish that’s less likely to happen potentially.”The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment. That money is earmarked for political and campaign activities, not for legal expenses, according to the campaign. To help pay the legal fees, Trump’s political operation has also moved millions from his super PAC, MAGA Inc. Those concerns are amplified in court records filed by Smith’s team in the Mar-a-Lago case.

Persons: — Donald Trump’s, Trump, ”, Randall Eliason, he’s, Letitia James ’, James, schemed, “, it’s, Anthony Michael Kreis, Donald Trump, Robert Lee, wasn’t Trump, Lee, Alina Habba, Christopher Kise, James ’, Habba Madaio, Habba, Jean Carroll, Mary Trump, Kise, Foley, Lardner, Chris Kise, Ron DeSantis, Sen, Rick Scott, Coleman, Ciara Torres, Jack Smith, ” Torres, Spelliscy, Joe Biden, Saurav Ghosh, don’t, ” Ghosh, Donald J, Smith, Carlos De Oliveira, De Oliveira, He’s, Walt Nauta, John Irving of, Brand, Stanley Woodward, Woodward, Mark Meadows, Dawn Smelcer, ” he’s, Eric Tucker, Jill Colvin Organizations: WASHINGTON, Commission, Associated, Save, Republican National Committee, Democratic National Committee, National Republican Senatorial, Trump PAC, Trump, White, George Washington University Law School, MAGA Inc, Georgia State University, Associates, Save America, New York Times, PAC, Republican, Florida Gov, Continental, Stetson University College of Law, Justice Department, Justice, Republicans, Democrats, GOP, Democratic, Legal, Smith’s, FBI, John Irving of Earth & Water Law, Brand Woodward Law, Prosecutors, AP, Associated Press Locations: New York, Georgia, Fulton, Lago, Florida, Boca Raton , Florida, Washington ,, Bedminster , New Jersey, York, West Palm Beach , Florida, Save America, Fayetteville , North Carolina, Washington

The exemption is allowed so long as Super PACs stay independent of the campaign they are supporting. This year's record spending by outside groups has been fueled in part by massive transfers by political groups tied to the candidates. "We've never had anything quite like this before in campaign finance," said Saurav Ghosh, a lawyer at the Campaign Legal Center. 'DISASSOCIATED'The Trump and DeSantis campaigns did not respond to requests for comment, but both Super PACs said the transfers were legal. "Campaign Legal Center is a fringe leftist organization that exists to file frivolous complaints," said MAGA Inc spokesperson Alex Pfeiffer.

Persons: Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Trump, DeSantis, MAGA, Stuart McPhail, We've, Saurav Ghosh, Alex Pfeiffer, Trevor Potter, John McCain, McPhail, Jason Lange, Nathan Layne, James Oliphant, Scott Malone, Suzanne Goldenberg Organizations: Florida, Republican, Inc, Federal, Commission, MAGA Inc, Citizens, MAGA, Republicans, Democrats, Social Security, Trump, DeSantis, Super PAC, Thomson Locations: Florida, Washington, Wilton , Connecticut

☆ DeSantis accused of violating campaign finance laws by watchdog group
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

DeSantis and his state PAC are being accused of violating campaign finance laws in a new FEC complaint. The group cites reports that they directed or transfered more than $80 million to a super PAC. Ron DeSantis and his state political action committee allegedly violated federal campaign finance laws by directing or transferring more than $80 million to a federal super PAC, Never Back Down, the nonpartisan watchdog group Campaign Legal Center says in a new complaint. "Soft money undermines federal campaign finance laws because it is, by definition, money raised and spent outside the scope of those laws," Saurav Ghosh, the Center's director of federal campaign finance reform, said in a statement. Never Back Down is a federal super PAC that raises unlimited funds to make independent expenditures.

Persons: DeSantis, —, Ron DeSantis, Saurav Ghosh, Ron DeSantis — Organizations: PAC, Service, Gov, federal, Federal, DeSantis Locations: Florida

☆ Tim Scott's biggest financial backer is Larry Ellison, a tech billionaire who owns the sixth-largest island in Hawaii and has poured $35 million into the senator's super PAC
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Ellison has pumped $35 million into Scott's super PAC, and could legally give him millions more. On Monday, Ellison attended Scott's campaign launch in North Charleston, where Scott described him as one of his mentors. Trump's political operation includes the "MAGA, Inc" super PAC, while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has enjoyed the support of the "Never Back Down" super PAC. Scott's campaign isn't the first time a Republican presidential candidate has heavily relied on a single megadonor.

☆ Ron Johnson insists he won't pocket $8.4 million from donors. But thanks to Ted Cruz, he could legally do exactly that.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

That's due to a Supreme Court case won last year by Ted Cruz, who defended Johnson repaying himself. In October quarterly filings, Johnson's campaign declared that it was reinstating $8.4 million in loans, citing Ted Cruz vs. FEC. Furthermore, the door is now open for other self-funding candidates to demand payback of campaign loans that they had previously forgiven. And prior to Johnson telling Insider that he wouldn't seek a loan repayment, Cruz vociferously defended the hypothetical repayment. "It is perfectly reasonable that Ron Johnson, after 10 years of making an interest-free loan to the American people, can pay back his own money," Cruz added.

☆ George Santos Pushed Campaign Finance Abuse Past the Usual Line - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( David Firestone | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

has been hobbled by Congress from investigating them and the Federal Election Commission, which also regulates their expenditures, is regularly deadlocked. Many 501(c)(4) groups claim a large amount of “overhead” in their spending; crucially, it’s rarely itemized and therefore escapes close scrutiny, according to Saurav Ghosh, the director of federal campaign finance reform at the nonprofit Campaign Legal Center. Mr. Santos might have gotten away with a lot of dubious spending in that category without anyone knowing. But Mr. Santos didn’t structure his fraud the usual way, according to the indictment. That company, which The New York Times says appears to be RedStone Strategies, had nothing to do with supporting Mr. Santos’s campaign but everything to do with supporting his bank account.

So far this year, super PACs have spent more than $12 million, about three times as much as four years earlier, according to public disclosures. The outlays suggest an aggressive cycle ahead for spending by super PACs, who helped drive about $1 billion in independent spending in the 2020 presidential contest. TRANSFERS QUESTIONEDRegistered as a super PAC, MAGA Inc is allowed to raise and spend unlimited sums supporting candidates as long as it doesn't coordinate spending with their campaigns. Steven Cheung, a Trump campaign spokesman, dismissed the Campaign Legal Center's arguments, calling the organization "a Democrat group." Campaign finance law specialists say they fear DeSantis could emulate Trump by transferring some of those funds into a federally registered super PAC to support his expected presidential campaign.

☆ For DeSantis, Overflowing War Chest Obscures the Challenges Ahead
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-08 | by ( Rebecca Davis O Brien | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

He is prohibited by law from transferring that “soft” money — dollars raised without federally imposed limits — into a presidential campaign. “Can he take that money, which was raised through his state PAC, and use it to advance his presidential campaign directly or through a federal super PAC supporting him?” said Saurav Ghosh, a former F.E.C. enforcement lawyer who is now the director of federal campaign finance reform at the Campaign Legal Center, a watchdog group. Representatives of Mr. DeSantis did not respond to requests for comment. Should he decide to run for president, he will be a grass-roots-fueled force to be reckoned with.”

☆ Rupert Murdoch could face FEC fines if he tipped off Jared Kushner about Biden's presidential ads before they aired
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Madison Hall | Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Dominion claims Rupert Murdoch shared info about Biden ads with Trump's campaign in 2020. "During Trump's campaign, Rupert provided Trump's son-in-law and senior advisor, Jared Kushner, with Fox confidential information about Biden's ads, along with debate strategy (providing Kushner a preview of Biden's ads before they were public)," Dominion's lawyers alleged in the filing. "If the allegations are true, this is precisely what Murdoch provided to the Trump campaign," he said. After Trump lost, Murdoch shifted attention to two runoff elections in Georgia for US Senate seats. "My friend Jared Kushner called me saying, 'This is terrible,' Murdoch wrote.

☆ FEC tells George Santos to name campaign treasurer or face ban on fundraising and spending
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

It added that campaigns are required to appoint a new treasurer within 10 days of the previous treasurer's resignation. That same day, the campaign filed an amended form listing Thomas Datwyler as its new treasurer. In a year-end report filed Jan. 31, the Santos campaign listed as its treasurer a person named Andrew Olson. Currently, the FEC lists Santos as his campaign's own treasurer. The FEC's latest notice adds to the pile of questions surrounding Santos' campaign conduct — including whether he plans to seek reelection.

☆ Trump won't be able to pour his $93 million campaign war chest into his 2024 presidential campaign. At least not directly.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

But despite raising over $100 million since the 2020 campaign, he won't be able to directly use those funds. One watchdog says Trump may be seeking to circumvent federal law by pouring that money into a super PAC. Under federal law, Save America can only give $5,000 to Trump's not-yet-established official 2024 campaign account. 'We're not supposed to be talking about it yet'Trump has been teasing a 2024 presidential campaign for months. Along with the $20 million from Save America, the PAC was also seeded by an almost $9 million contribution from another super PAC called "Make America Great Again, Again!

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