campaign | Corruption & Secrecy | Maine
Collins Continues to Abuse Taxpayer Resources To Promote Reelection Campaign
Last week, in yet another potential violation of Senate ethics rules, Sen. Susan Collins sent an official government staffer to a private GOP fundraising event in Washington County, Maine to implore its attendees to support Collin’s reelection campaign. The potential violation comes after numerous other allegations of ethics violations have dogged Senator Collins and her government work for more than one year.
Corruption & Secrecy
Trump Campaign Re-Hires Firm Paid By Accused Money Launderers
According to a review by American Ledger, Trump’s reelection campaign has re-hired Belmont Strategies, a digital consulting firm that was recently revealed to have been working with accused campaign money launders Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman.
Corruption & Secrecy | West Virginia
Self-Enrichment Update: Billionaire Jim Justice Pays Himself $24K For Trump Jr. Fundraiser
In October, West Virginia billionaire Jim Justice’s campaign flexed his spending muscle by paying his own resort -- and himself -- $24,000 for hosting a fundraiser to benefit his campaign headlined by Donald Trump Jr.
Corruption & Secrecy | Virginia
Corruption Watch: Construction Magnate Funneled $10,000 to DeSteph after Lawmaker Attempted to Thwart Investigation Into It’s Malpractice
According to a review by American Ledger, previously unreported campaign finance filings show that Virginia State Sen. Bill DeSteph received $10,000 in campaign contributions from construction magnate, JES Construction, after allegedly leading the charge to remove the regulatory authority disciplining the organization for inadequate business practices.
In January 2019, Virginia Mercury News reported that DeSteph sent more than a dozen emails to administrators at the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), demanding the organization drop their case against JES Construction for failing to obtain building permits and failing safety inspections. DeSteph even went as far as demanding that the DPOR direct all communications in regards to the investigation of JES Construction to his office.
Corruption & Secrecy | Kentucky
Bevin Cut Off Resources to Laid Off Ashland Steel Workers
In January 2017, Gov. Matt Bevin ignored the cries of local steelworkers in Ashland County, Kentucky, by gutting funding for the Ashland Career Center, a local career organization designed to help guide local steel mill workers to their next position incase of layoffs.
Nearly two years later, in September 2019, almost 260 steel workers employed at AK Steel in Ashland were given notice they would likely be laid off, and now are left without a fully functioning resource center to help them find their next job because of Bevin’s steep cuts to the Ashland Career Center.
Corruption & Secrecy | Maine
FEC Reports Suggest Collins Violated Ethics Rules By Accepting Campaign Contributions From Her Government Staff
As recently as January 2019, Sen. Susan Collins’ campaign accepted illegal contributions from her own government staffers in an apparent violation of Senate ethics rules and federal law. The actions undermine decades-old promises to cease the illicit activities of her campaign in the late 90s.
According to reporting by The Hill from 1998, Sen. Susan Collins’ campaign violated Sec. 603 of the Federal criminal code, which states that it is illegal for a Member of Congress to accept political contributions, including an “advance of money,” from employees in their federal offices even if it is promptly reimbursed. Her chief of staff, Steve Abbott responded to the allegations from The Hill by vowing that this illegal practice would not continue. He also thanked the outlet for bringing the law to his attention, which he said the campaign was “not familiar” with.
Corruption & Secrecy | Kentucky
Healthcare Executives Funneled Campaign Cash to Bevin After His Admin Helped Fund Their New Office Headquarters
Top executives of healthcare corporation, BrightSpring -- formerly known as Rescare and PharmMerica -- donated tens of thousands to Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin’s political campaign a year after Bevin’s administration approved a $500,000 state grant to help fund construction of the organization’s lavish new office headquarters.
According to a review of public filings by American Ledger, the donations from BrightSpring executives, made in February and March 2019, came just two months after BrightSpring opened the doors of it’s brand new office headquarters in Louisville.