Zombie Campaigns

[Sancho]

http://www.tampabay.com/projects/2018/investigations/zombie-campaigns/spending-millions-after-office/

In their political afterlife, former politicians and their staffers are hoarding unspent campaign donations for years and using them to finance their lifestyle, advance their new careers and pay family members, an investigation by the Tampa Bay Times, 10News WTSP and TEGNA-owned TV stations found.

Their spending makes a mockery of one of the fundamental principles of America’s campaign finance laws: Donations must be spent only on politics, not politicians’ personal lives.

Six campaign finance experts told Times/WTSP reporters that some of the zombie campaign spending was a potential election-law violation that should have been investigated by the FEC.

“There’s just no legitimate explanation for that, and it’s just outrageous,” said Noah Bookbinder, executive director of nonpartisian watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. “It’s the kind of abuse that people only perpetrate when they’re sure nobody is watching and they can get away with anything.”

Really interesting investigation at the link...

[Wellstone ruled]

1. Apppears this type of action

by Jason Chaffetz brought about his demise.

[demmiblue]

2. Wow... that was certainly eye-opening. n/t