A democracy watchdog group filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission against a nonprofit Bernie Sanders founded.
Common Cause, a nonpartisan government accountability group, filed the FEC complaint against Our Revolution, a group Bernie Sanders founded during his 2016 campaign to promote the socialist values the Vermont senator touts from the campaign trail. The watchdog group alleged that Our Revolution accepted donations in excess of federal campaign law limits which were used to bolster Sanders’ campaign illegally.
The complaint followed a report from the Associated Press that claimed that Our Revolution was acting as an unregistered super PAC on Sanders’ behalf because the organization could rake in unlimited donations. The report claimed Our Revolution was acting as a “dark money” fund for Sanders because donors could pour money into the nonprofit organization without a trace.
Federal campaign finance laws bar nonprofit groups founded by candidates from using money from large donors in campaign activities, but Our Revolution has been pushing a get-out-the-vote campaign on behalf of Sanders.
Paul Ryan, a campaign finance expert for Common Cause, said, “Any entity established by a federal officeholder can only raise and spend money under federal contribution limits for any activities in connection with a federal election. Our Revolution was undoubtedly established by Sen. Sanders, is subject to these laws — and is seemingly in violation of them.”
Ryan later added, “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. 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.”
Paco Fabian, a spokesman for Our Revolution, denied wrongdoing, saying, “We invest our money … in things like organizing and phone banks and canvassing voters on issues that matter. We aren’t running ads or doing glossy mailers.”
While the organization denies wrongdoing, it has accepted $1 million from donors that were not fully disclosed who had cut checks over the legal limits.
Dan Petalas, a former FEC attorney, said that Our Revolution could make the case that they are not affiliated with Sanders, saying, “I believe that the analysis is more complicated than has been suggested, and that Our Revolution will be able to show Sanders is no longer affiliated. And even if that’s incorrect, Our Revolution should be able to demonstrate that they used the money in ways that comply with the law.”
Sanders, 78, has ripped other candidates for accepting money from large donors and PACs. He maintained that he is not tied to Our Revolution in any way, telling New Hampshire Public Radio, “If I got on the phone and I told them what to do, that would be a violation of campaign finance law.”
