Questions were raised Monday about the fundraising efforts of 3rd District congressional candidate Paula Hollinger, as charges were made that she was asking for quid pro quo donations from state delegates to fund her congressional campaign.
The alleged deal asks for a donation to State Sen. Hollinger?s congressional campaign in exchange for money back from Hollinger?s state campaign to the donors, a deal that experts said raises ethical questions.
“I?ve been contacted by a delegate asking if it was legal,” Common Cause Executive Director Bobbie Walton said.
“I advised them that the legality was unclear, but it certainly raised ethical questions,” she said.
Several delegates, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Hollinger?s campaign had contacted them, allegedly offering to return donations made to her federal race from Hollinger?s state campaign funds in amounts in excess of the original donation.
Hollinger?s campaign denies the allegations.
“There is no story here. We do not give money back to our supporters, and we make sure each donation is totally within the law,” campaign spokeswoman Lisa Nissley said.
Experts speculated that Hollinger may be trying to transfer funds from her state campaign to her federal campaign fund. Mixing state and federal campaign funds is limited by law.
“It sounds a little a bit unusual; I haven?t heard of this before. My guess is one of the key question is if this is done behind the scenes, or done overtly,” said Richard Vatz, professor of political science at Towson University.
Common Cause national spokeswoman Sarah Dufendach said Hollinger?s fundraising efforts could be a way to move money from her state to federal campaign fund.
“It appears this is a way to get around the contribution limits; she?s finding it a way to launder money from her state to her federal PAC,” she said.
But Nissley insists the allegations are false. “The story is absolutely untrue,” she said.
