09.21.18

Democrats’ ‘Mysterious’ Money

Senate Democrats Continue To Complain Of ‘Dark Money,’ While ‘Mysterious’ Money Flows From Their Super PACs

 

SEN. CLAIRE McCASKILL (D-MO), on her Supreme Court nomination vote: It’s based “on his positions on several key issues, most importantly the avalanche of dark, anonymous money that is crushing our democracy.” (Springfield [MO] News-Leader, 9/19/2018)

 

‘Mysterious’ Super PACs Spending Millions On Senate Races Are Funded By ‘Super PAC[s] Aligned With Senate Democrats’

ARIZONA: “A mysterious super PAC that spent $1.7 million attacking Republican Rep. Martha McSally during the Arizona Senate primary was funded entirely by Senate Majority PAC, a super PAC aligned with Senate Democrats, new campaign finance disclosures show.” (“Mystery super PAC that attacked McSally was funded by Senate Democrats,” Politico, 9/20/2018)


ALABAMA: “A mystery super PAC backing Democrat Doug Jones in Alabama is controlled by a pair of groups closely aligned with the national Democratic Party, even as the candidate strives to dissociate himself from Washington interests. Highway 31, which dropped more than $4.1 million in support of Jones … is a joint project of two of the largest national Democratic super PACs — Senate Majority PAC and Priorities USA Action — along with a group of Alabama Democrats, multiple senior officials familiar with the arrangement told POLITICO.” (“Secret Super PAC Backing Jones In Alabama Exposed,” Politico, 12/11/2017)

  • “Chris Hayden, spokesman for the Senate Majority PAC, said Tuesday that the group was the primary backer of the PAC called Highway 31, which spent more than $4 million on hard-hitting advertising and mailings … Because of reporting and payment schedules, Highway 31 didn't disclose its donors during the campaign despite its heavy spending.” (The Associated Press, 12/27/2017)

 

Senate Dems Attack ‘A Flood Of Unlimited, Dark Money’ Keeping ‘The Identity Of Big Donors A Deep, Dark Secret’

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): “[T]he Roberts Court … unleashed a flood of unlimited, dark money in our politics …” (Sen. Schumer, Congressional Record, S. 4466, 6/27/2018)

SEN. SHELDON WHITEHOUSE (D-RI): “Who pays millions of dollars for that, and what their expectations are is a deep, dark secret. These groups also fund Republican election campaigns with dark money and keep the identity of big donors a deep, dark secret.” (U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing, 9/04/2018)

SEN. CORY BOOKER (D-NJ): “I’ve only been here five years and I’ve seen the culture of Washington change because of the obscene amount of dark money pouring into our political process … rigging the system.” (U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing, 9/04/2018)

 

And Yet Dems Gather ‘Behind Closed Doors’ And Rally With ‘Dark Money’ Group Demand Justice On The Supreme Court

LEFT-WING ‘DARK MONEY’ GROUP DEMAND JUSTICE: “We’re LIVE on the steps of the Supreme Court with U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Edward J. Markey and U.S. Senator Kamala Harris demanding Democrats in the Senate #DitchtheList of Trump’s SCOTUS nominees.” (Demand Justice, Facebook, 6/28/2018)

“The executive director of Demand Justice is Brian Fallon, a former top aide to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who later advised Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign in 2016.” (“Millions From Anonymous Donors To Influence Kavanaugh Fight,” The Associated Press, 7/12/2018)

 

Liberal ‘Dark Money’ Group Demand Justice Hides Behind ‘An Additional Layer Of Secrecy’

“Millions of dollars from anonymous donors are helping shape the fight over President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee … The liberal Demand Justice has spelled out plans for a $5 million effort to oppose Kavanaugh … While the groups’ positions on Kavanaugh are clear, their sources of cash aren’t.” (“Millions From Anonymous Donors To Influence Kavanaugh Fight,” The Associated Press, 7/12/2018)

“Demand Justice was formed just a few months ago and is structured in such a way that it doesn’t have to file annual tax returns. That’s because it’s ‘fiscally sponsored’ by a tax-exempt social welfare organization called the Sixteen Thirty Fund. The Sixteen Thirty Fund files federal tax returns but doesn’t have to disclose the identities of its donors.” (“Millions From Anonymous Donors To Influence Kavanaugh Fight,” The Associated Press, 7/12/2018)

 

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SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER

Related Issues: First Amendment, Senate Democrats, Supreme Court