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"Common Cause Files Complaint Against Pro-Bernie Sanders Group Our Revolution for Violating Soft Mon
Our Revolution is a dark money dirty pac. https://electionlawblog.org/?p=109102
Today, Common Cause filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) alleging reason to believe that Our Revolution, a nonprofit political organization established by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in 2016 and now supporting his 2020 presidential campaign, violated the federal soft money ban. Sen. Sanders has been a longtime critic of super PACs and so-called Dark Money groups. The complaint documents that Our Revolution has solicited contributions explicitly to elect Sanders president, received contributions far in excess of the applicable $5,000 contribution limit and spent funds in connection with federal elections, including current voter mobilization efforts supporting Sanders in Iowa.
Under the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, an entity directly or indirectly established by a federal candidate or officeholder is not allowed to solicit, receive, direct, transfer, or spend funds in connection with an election for Federal office unless the funds are subject to the limitations, prohibitions, and reporting requirements of federal law.
According to Our Revolutions tax returns showing contribution amounts but not contributor names, data compiled and first reported by the Associated Press, from 2016 to 2018 Our Revolution raised almost $1 million dollars from contributors who gave in excess of the applicable $5,000 contribution limit, including multiple contributions of between $100,000 and $300,000. Our Revolution has not disclosed any of its contributors to the FEC, as required by federal campaign finance law.
Under the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, an entity directly or indirectly established by a federal candidate or officeholder is not allowed to solicit, receive, direct, transfer, or spend funds in connection with an election for Federal office unless the funds are subject to the limitations, prohibitions, and reporting requirements of federal law.
According to Our Revolutions tax returns showing contribution amounts but not contributor names, data compiled and first reported by the Associated Press, from 2016 to 2018 Our Revolution raised almost $1 million dollars from contributors who gave in excess of the applicable $5,000 contribution limit, including multiple contributions of between $100,000 and $300,000. Our Revolution has not disclosed any of its contributors to the FEC, as required by federal campaign finance law.
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
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"Common Cause Files Complaint Against Pro-Bernie Sanders Group Our Revolution for Violating Soft Mon (Original Post)
Gothmog
Jan 2020
OP
Setting up a dark money organization that is very plainly operating in contravention of the law
The Valley Below
Jan 2020
#7
sanders funneled 8 million dollars illegally from his secret PAC/Super Pac "Friends Of Bernie Sander
Gothmog
Jan 2020
#10
Friends of Bernie Sanders, Inc, and the recipient of the $, Bernie2020, share the same office....
ehrnst
Jan 2020
#11
I wonder if he will withdraw from the race as a result of this plainly criminal activity?
The Valley Below
Jan 2020
#12
TwilightZone
(25,456 posts)1. That seems a little...ironic.
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(145,086 posts)2. Here is the full press release
I am glad that Common Cause is challenging sanders and his dark money PAC https://www.commoncause.org/press-release/common-cause-files-complaint-against-pro-bernie-sanders-group-our-revolution-for-violating-soft-money-ban/
Today, Common Cause filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) alleging reason to believe that Our Revolution, a nonprofit political organization established by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in 2016 and now supporting his 2020 presidential campaign, violated the federal soft money ban. Sen. Sanders has been a longtime critic of super PACs and so-called Dark Money groups. The complaint documents that Our Revolution has solicited contributions explicitly to elect Sanders president, received contributions far in excess of the applicable $5,000 contribution limit and spent funds in connection with federal elections, including current voter mobilization efforts supporting Sanders in Iowa.
Under the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, an entity directly or indirectly established by a federal candidate or officeholder is not allowed to solicit, receive, direct, transfer, or spend funds in connection with an election for Federal office unless the funds are subject to the limitations, prohibitions, and reporting requirements of federal law.
According to Our Revolutions tax returns showing contribution amounts but not contributor names, data compiled and first reported by the Associated Press, from 2016 to 2018 Our Revolution raised almost $1 million dollars from contributors who gave in excess of the applicable $5,000 contribution limit, including multiple contributions of between $100,000 and $300,000. Our Revolution has not disclosed any of its contributors to the FEC, as required by federal campaign finance law.
Americans expect and deserve to have our campaign finance laws enforced and they expect political organizations to abide by the law, regardless of their political views, said Paul Seamus Ryan, Common Cause vice president for policy and litigation. The facts surrounding Our Revolution, including its founding by Sen. Sanders, its receipt of six-figure contributions, its failure to disclose donors to the FEC, and its political spending in Iowa and elsewhere, point to a clear violation of the federal soft money ban. Common Cause is a nonpartisan organization and we work to hold power accountable regardless of party affiliation or policy positions. It is critically important that the soft money ban be enforced, or outside groups founded by candidates will become a commonplace means to evade contribution limits and disclosure requirements.
In 2018, Common Cause filed a complaint against America First Policies and America First Action, outside groups founded by President Trumps campaign after the 2016 election, alleging violation of the same soft money ban that Our Revolution appears to have violated. That complaint is still pending.
Under the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, an entity directly or indirectly established by a federal candidate or officeholder is not allowed to solicit, receive, direct, transfer, or spend funds in connection with an election for Federal office unless the funds are subject to the limitations, prohibitions, and reporting requirements of federal law.
According to Our Revolutions tax returns showing contribution amounts but not contributor names, data compiled and first reported by the Associated Press, from 2016 to 2018 Our Revolution raised almost $1 million dollars from contributors who gave in excess of the applicable $5,000 contribution limit, including multiple contributions of between $100,000 and $300,000. Our Revolution has not disclosed any of its contributors to the FEC, as required by federal campaign finance law.
Americans expect and deserve to have our campaign finance laws enforced and they expect political organizations to abide by the law, regardless of their political views, said Paul Seamus Ryan, Common Cause vice president for policy and litigation. The facts surrounding Our Revolution, including its founding by Sen. Sanders, its receipt of six-figure contributions, its failure to disclose donors to the FEC, and its political spending in Iowa and elsewhere, point to a clear violation of the federal soft money ban. Common Cause is a nonpartisan organization and we work to hold power accountable regardless of party affiliation or policy positions. It is critically important that the soft money ban be enforced, or outside groups founded by candidates will become a commonplace means to evade contribution limits and disclosure requirements.
In 2018, Common Cause filed a complaint against America First Policies and America First Action, outside groups founded by President Trumps campaign after the 2016 election, alleging violation of the same soft money ban that Our Revolution appears to have violated. That complaint is still pending.
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
The Valley Below
(1,701 posts)3. About time!
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
MineralMan
(146,284 posts)4. Uh-oh. Dissension in the ranks.
You're either a PAC or you're not. There are rules.
Some folks don't follow the rules. On both sides. Some folks think they're above the rules, because, you know, reasons.
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(145,086 posts)5. This will be fun to watch
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Response to Gothmog (Original post)
LongtimeAZDem This message was self-deleted by its author.
The Valley Below
(1,701 posts)7. Setting up a dark money organization that is very plainly operating in contravention of the law
is dIsQuAlIfYiNg.
Illegal and hypocritical.
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)8. Waiting for the attacks on Common Cause from Sanders surrogates and supporters.
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(145,086 posts)9. Watchdog files FEC complaint against pro-Sanders group
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(145,086 posts)10. sanders funneled 8 million dollars illegally from his secret PAC/Super Pac "Friends Of Bernie Sander
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)11. Friends of Bernie Sanders, Inc, and the recipient of the $, Bernie2020, share the same office....
https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/0581439D:US
Note some interesting details here:
https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_ca/C4255992
And look who the officers are for Bernie 2020 Inc - the recipient of those transfers:
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
The Valley Below
(1,701 posts)12. I wonder if he will withdraw from the race as a result of this plainly criminal activity?
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
R B Garr
(16,950 posts)14. Hypocrisy exposed!
Great development. Thanks for posting.
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(145,086 posts)16. More dark money is flowing towards sanders
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden