Did Bunning, Williams, and the Republican Party of Kentucky Violate Campaign Finance Laws?

[ccharles000]

http://bluegrassroots.org/showDiary.do?diaryId=2660

by: Ben Carter
Mon Mar 02, 2009 at 19:26:34 PM EST

Remember last week when Jim Bunning said the Republican Party of Kentucky owed him $30,000? If not, here's a quick refresher:

Bunning shot back Tuesday, accusing Williams of failing to repay $30,000 that his campaign provided to help state Sens. Ken Winters, R-Murray, and Jack Westwood, R-Crescent Springs, retain their seats in the fall election.

Williams "owes me $30,000 and he said he'll repay me," Bunning said. "I was short in my FEC money and he asked me if I would help save two state Senate seats. ... I told him if I did it, I would have to have it replaced at the first of the year. So far, he has not."

It kind of sounds like Jim Bunning and David Williams had a conversation about helping Winters and Westwood get reelected. One which contemplated Bunning giving money to the Republican Party of Kentucky.

A Federal Election Commission report for Bunning's campaign committee, Citizens for Bunning, shows a $25,000 contribution to the Republican Party of Kentucky on Oct. 20, 2008. Bunning said his political action committee donated an additional $5,000.

Federal elected officials routinely donate money to their state party. That's pretty commonplace. What is not commonplace is having an elected official state that the money was specifically for a certain race. This is less common probably because transferring a bunch of federal money to a state campaign, even especially if it's laundered through a party, is a violation of campaign finance laws.

From page 61 of the FEC's Campaign Guide :

Contributions from federal candidate committees to state or local candidate committees are subject to state law. 300.62.

Now, admittedly, that's not what happened here. Unless it's exactly what happened here.

On Thursday the 16th of October, the Republican Party of Kentucky made a $30,000 donation to northern Kentucky Republican Jack Westwood, who was locked in a dead-heat with challenger Kathy Groob.

REPUBLICAN PARTY OF KENTUCKY
P.O. BOX 1068
FRANKFORT, KY, 406020000
Employer :
Occupation : EXECUTIVE COMM Contribution
$30,000.00 on 10/16/2008
WESTWOOD, JACK for
STATE SENATOR - 23RD DISTRICT
GENERAL - 11/04/2008


The following Monday, Jim Bunning's campaign fund donated $25,000 to the Republican Party of Kentucky.

REPUBLICAN PARTY OF KENTUCKY 10/20/2008 25000.00 29020032688

Under Kentucky law, candidates can only receive $1000 from individuals and committees, but can receive unlimited amounts from political parties. Thus, the benefit of routing money through the Republican Party.

[ccharles000]

1. kick

[southern_dem]

2. I'm sure they found a loophole

but if not, let's investigate and see what shakes out. :evilgrin: