Watchdog files FEC complaint against pro-Sanders group

[ehrnst]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The watchdog group Common Cause filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission on Wednesday, alleging that Our Revolution, a political nonprofit organization founded by Bernie Sanders, violated campaign finance law by accepting donations in excess of federal limits while boosting his White House ambitions.

Our Revolution has denied any wrongdoing. A spokesman declined to comment. Sanders’ campaign also did not respond to a request for comment.

The campaign finance act says groups established by federal officeholders or candidates cannot raise money for federal electoral activity that exceeds the limitations of the law. Those contributions are currently set at $2,800 for candidates and $5,000 for political action committees.

“Because Sanders set up Our Revolution and they have raised and spent money in candidate elections, Our Revolution is required to comply with contribution limits, register with the FEC and discloses its donors — but it hasn’t,” said Paul S. Ryan, an attorney for Common Cause. “It’s his establishment of the group that triggers these laws. That means a $5,000 limit, full donor disclosure and no contributions from prohibited sources.”

The complaint comes after The Associated Press reported earlier this month about the donations.

https://apnews.com/cd7a58676b6fc8cbe2f9783f469d0bee

[Gothmog]

1. This makes me smile

Link to tweet

[ehrnst]

3. Common Cause is a sharp, progressive group that truly fights for the people and Democracy

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 Trump’s 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.

https://www.commoncause.org/press-release/common-cause-files-complaint-against-pro-bernie-sanders-group-our-revolution-for-violating-soft-money-ban/

I don't envy them the blowback and accusations of being "corporate shills" or accusations that they 'a puppet of Charles Koch/The GOP/The Clintons" or "in the the pocket of big pharma," etc, like other non-partisan groups that turn a neutral spotlight on Senator Sanders's words, policies or actions. The left-leaning Urban Institute was attacked by Sander's staff and supporters for doing an analysis of his 2016 MFA proposal, and found that it would be more expensive and more disruptive to the health care system than he stated it would.

[squirecam]

22. Expose campaign violations

No matter who it is. Bright light it.

[Thekaspervote]

29. As was pointed out earlier today by aoc... "some people campaign as if there was no internet."

Bernie...this isn’t going away

[Skidmore]

2. It's about time.

"Small donors" and saying you aren't a PAC doesn't mean you are above the law. Tired of finger wagging lectures to those who follow the law.

[ehrnst]

5. If sunlight is the best disinfectant, one doesn't have to worry about it shining in

if one doesn't need any disinfecting.

Somehow, I think that the Sanders team won't see it that way.

[sheshe2]

4. K&R!

[Gothmog]

6. Watchdog files FEC complaint against pro-Sanders group

sanders has laundered a ton of dirty money

Link to tweet

[LongtimeAZDem]

16. The Sanders campaign trumpeted those 4th quarter numbers to show that he was out-raising

the other candidates; subtracting 8 million from his total puts him in the same ballpark as everyone else.

IF this is true, it could be construed as an attempt to perpetrate a fraud, in furtherance of unlawful fund-raising.

[ehrnst]

21. 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

[George II]

32. WOW! So he's got a "foreign nonprofit" (incorporated in California) based in Vermont....

....whose stated reason for existence is to elect a candidate to the United States Senate. "Oh what a tangled web we weave....."

I wonder how Rachel Maddow will handle this once she catches wind of it.

[ehrnst]

36. The California part I understand - the main office applies for all the state chapter incorporations.

It's the "foreign nonprofit' that's curious.

It could all be very much a legal, if obscure, way to incorporate, however, if this had been named Warren2020 or Biden2020, this would have already been all over DU, and have been called "SHADY" and "CORRUPT" by many Sanders supporters.

I'm also curious about the financial setup and contractual setup with Bernie and Jane being the officers of Bernie2020, which gets unlimited transfers from "Friends of Bernie Sanders."

Campaign finance is not my wheelhouse, so I'm going to ask friends who know more about this.

[Skya Rhen]

7. Nobody believes that Bernie is corrupt but this investigation is not a good look...

[MH1]

12. I'm not nobody

... last I checked.

I haven't thought about the angle much but I was not shocked by the Common Cause allegation. So yes, I could believe Bernie is corrupt by many people's definition. Probably not his own - his ego would rationalize away any of his bad acts.

[Thekaspervote]

30. This!

[Scurrilous]

8. But I thought Bernie's money was small and pure.

[BannonsLiver]

9. Ohhh you don't say

I’m shocked I tell you! Shocked!

[The Valley Below]

10. I'm not sure how any reasonable person could read the applicable tax and campaign finance laws

around 501.c4s and conclude that the operations of Our Revolution are legal or are in conformance with the law.

This is a dark money organization that is operating illegally.

Bad. Bad. Bad.

[BannonsLiver]

11. Don't worry. The gaslighting will commence shortly.

[The Valley Below]

13. How would clearly illegal activities be justified?

Especially when running against dark money is--in theory--a central point in the campaign.

What's the defense? "It's not wrong if we do it?" LOL.

Not sure that flies.

[BannonsLiver]

14. I'm not sure

But what I’ve seen is there are two separate standards. One for that candidate and another for everyone else. Essentially if He is doing it, it must be okay, will be the likely defense, if I had to guess.

[The Valley Below]

15. I will stay tuned to see how this gets spun.

[ehrnst]

38. I don't envy anyone answering phones in Common Cause offices...

After what happend to WFP after they endorsed Warren...

[The Valley Below]

39. I know what you are saying.

[ehrnst]

24. Justification often comes in the form of denial.

See also: diehard followers of DJT

[The Valley Below]

25. What's to deny? The numbers are in black and white and the law (and law-breaking)

are clear on their face, no?

[ehrnst]

26. I'm talking about those who will find a justification, no matter how non-existent

to support a candidate, no matter what comes out about them.

Like Trump said - he could shoot someone in the middle of 5th Avenue, and his supporters would still defend him.

[The Valley Below]

27. I see what you are saying.

[Demsrule86]

35. Thanks for posting this...K&R

[R B Garr]

17. Great to see hypocrisy exposed!

Thanks for posting.

[Gothmog]

18. sanders funneled 8 million dollars illegally from his secret PAC/Super Pac "Friends Of Bernie Sander

Link to tweet

[BannonsLiver]

19. Like bean farts

This has the smell of something that will linger.

[betsuni]

23. K&R

[Cha]

28. Shine the Light!

[BannonsLiver]

31. Kick

[NCProgressive]

33. About time

Investigate Justice Democrats and Brand New Congress as well

[NYMinute]

34. What about the Sanders Institute and Friends of Bernie Sanders?

Last edited Thu Jan 23, 2020, 10:23 AM - Edit history (1)

[ehrnst]

37. That didn't turn out to be anything illegal.

Senate financial disclosures confirmed that Sanders received no royalties from the books in question.

Given that these purchases were reported and FEC spared no time or expense handing him a 645 page violation letter, it's safe to assume that they noticed and followed up on this issue. The only entities profiting would be the publishing house and the campaign fund (not Sanders personally).

[Gothmog]

40. sanders is getting support from even more dark money

Link to tweet