FEC releases damning 639 pages of violations by Bernie Sanders campaign

[Cali_Democrat]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by LostOne4Ever (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Federal Election Commission & Daily Kos

The Federal Elections Campaign released a letter to the Bernie Sanders campaign detailing campaign finance issues they have with his campaign with the latest forms Bernie 2016 filed. Now to be fair to Bernie, his campaign has refunded some of the people who donated more than $2,700 back in December and January, however there have been no listed refunds since then. To note this paperwork requires a response by 6/14/16 which just happens to be the day of the final primary so IF Bernie responds it will be as DC is filling out the last votes of the primary.

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Attachment page 1 through the top of 595 are all donations that are above the $2,700.00 limit that have yet to be refunded.

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Now the fun part comes from pages 595 through 638 which are all foreign donations to the campaign and the last page is refunds that have no corresponding donation, just Bernie 2016 giving money to people randomly for no reason (which is probably the most innocent of the bunch since it is 100% possible that with all the donations there was a mistake in filing).

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By the way these are problems that Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump do not have at all. This is a uniquely Bernie Sanders problem, one that brings questions about his understanding of campaign finance laws, his team’s understanding of those same laws and whether or not there is a knowing plan to deceive the FEC in order to raise funds.


Read more: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/5/11/1525428/-FEC-releases-damning-639-pages-of-violations-by-Bernie-Sanders-campaign

[Politicub]

4. It's called a spreadsheet.

Just sort by column.

Or query the database.

Or pay an intern to run a calculator.

[Politicub]

12. Then a person who knows how to do this needs to be on his team

Bernie inc. has become a multi-million dollar enterprise. Surely they can hire some bookkeepers.

[leftofcool]

42. A giant headache? Hillary has no "headaches" with her figures.

[Wibly]

59. No

She has Goldman Sachs taking care of everything.

[bjo59]

70. You know, it's a totally losing proposition to try and imply that Bernie Sanders is more

corrupt than Hillary Clinton (he's not corrupt) and I'm surprised that you're even trying. If Hillary Clinton's supporters are so confident that "she's already wrapped up the nomination," what's with all the kindergarten-level attempts to smear "the loser"? Wouldn't it be a lot smarter for you guys to talk about what you find so dangerous about Bernie's policy proposals and why you find Clinton's policy proposals so positive for the majority of people living in this country?

[anigbrowl]

64. Yeah it is

the vast majority of these donations are made online and it's easy to cross-reference them. If Sanders can afford to pay $800k in a month to his campaign strategist he can surely afford to throw some money at his campaign finance administrators. Common sense tells you that it's cheaper to have that stuff straight from the outset.

* I don't literally mean they can/should do it all in Excel but when you get down to it this is not a complex technical problem.

[anigbrowl]

69. Yawn

Somehow everyone else seems to manage this without major problems and lots of businesses do as well. A small number of errors is unavoidable but this isn't a massive intractable problem and you know it. You're not telling my anything new, I was building and populating mailing list databases 20 years ago and somehow I managed it even when all my inputs were handwritten postcards. This is a matter of basic competency for running a national political campaign, and it ain't rocket science.

[samson212]

18. What's the biggest spreadsheet you've used?

I suspect that typical spreadsheet software can't sort a document with millions of rows. Of course, this would be easy with a database. Or an intern (several interns?).

[Politicub]

27. Perhaps no technology known yet to humankind...

Can analyze the donations that Bernie is receiving.

That's the ticket. His campaign just can't figure it out. I like this excuse because it's elegant in its simplicity.

[Politicub]

34. Ah, a media conspiracy. Yes, that makes perfect sense.

The FEC, DailyKos, everyone - all in on this shocking ruse.

[apnu]

7. Obama flew a record number of small donations, he never had this problem.

It is damming as the Federal Election Commission can shut him down for it. It looks like Bernie's accounting is a mess, the Feds take a dim view on these things.

[apnu]

38. Google tells us all. Obama did have a FEC problem, but not Bill or Hillary Clinton.

http://www.fec.gov/press/bkgnd/history.shtml

MUR:
6078/6090/
6108/6139/
6142/6214

MAINRESPONDENT(S)
Obama for America, Martin Nesbitt, treasurer; Obama Victory Fund, Andrew Tobias, treasurer [12/10/12] (excessive contributions; foreign national contributions; contributions in the name of another; reporting) One conciliation agreement that was for two respondents.

CIVIL PENALTIES
$183,865

Also at that link, zero results for Clinton, be it Bill or Hillary. Records go back to the mid-90s on that link

[LiberalFighter]

21. There were no problems for the Clinton campaign.

[apnu]

39. Google answers your questions, but I'll do it for you, see below

FEC's list of large civil penalties.

http://www.fec.gov/press/bkgnd/history.shtml

Search the page for "Clinton" and you'll get zero results. The Clintons are clean of FEC donation problems.

[apnu]

50. Uh, did you bother to read the top of the page? Because a fine hasn't been leveled yet.

This page is as a historical record of large fines.

Note from the page:

Selected List of Cases
In Which the Civil Penalties Are $50,000 or Greater
Made Public Between 1980 – Present
(Updated June 2015)

[apnu]

71. We don't know anything about the Hillary Campaign

But we do know she ran in 2008 and had no problems. We also know Bill ran in the 90s and he doesn't show up on the list either. Chances are they are clean of FEC issues with donations. We should presume innocence before guilt.

[anigbrowl]

65. Why don't you do some research of your own

FEC records are public for this very reason, so you don't have to depend on the media to inform you about it.

[LiberalFighter]

67. OP has link to the article.

[leftofcool]

44. There is software available for this. It's actually quite easy.

[Android3.14]

2. Looks like the memo trickled down to the FEC

Gotta love our corporate Democratic Party, or else.

[cstanleytech]

40. Oh please stop the tinfoil hat bs and just accept that Bernies campaign apparently has some issues

that they need to fix.
As for those who want to dance on his grave over this, grow the hell up these things happen and it doesnt really mean shit in the end as far as his qualifications go to be president.

[Politicub]

3. I'm sure there's a good reason that will show up in this thread

In the meantime, I'm munching some popcorn as the Bernie Supporters tie themselves into knots as they spin.

[4now]

5. This is really bad news for the Sanders campaign

[Plucketeer]

6. Most certainly a deceiving tactic

It just makes sense that Bernie would purposely err with these monies so as to sabotage his campaign and thereby get him some serious rest time.

[brooklynite]

25. Or...take the money, get the float, pay it back when the embarrassing report comes out.

[Plucketeer]

72. See - it's stuff like that that just renders me stupified!

Here's this cagey guy at the helm of a BIG, yet lithe machine - who at 74 (three years older than my ancient carcass) has the vision and aplomb and the spunk to contrive the many, many deceptive facets of a campaign that from the start, was founded on false premises an' promises of pie-inna-sky baloney. There's the Bern - out there alone - keepin' all those spinning plates wobbling in the air while hop-scotching around the USA - charming people and sparrows alike.
I don't care if you love him or loathe him, you've gotta give him your respects. The man would have Tricky Dick drop-jawed in awe. I'll bet Bernie knows what the meaning of "is" is in all the native American dialects. He's a veritable sorcerer (or Sourcerer in this instance!) with the buckets and brooms doing his bidding with nary the slightest hint of impropriety. Amazing - just mind-blowingly amazing.

[apnu]

9. I'm here to watch the spin that this is all some elaborate conspiracy to hold Bernie back.

Because everything is a conspiracy, right?

[SunSeeker]

10. K & R for exposure. nt

[peace13]

11. Maybe you should check to see that this has been posted multiple times already.

It has been explained carefully to those who want to understand. But, that's not half as fun as some bull article title. Learning is fun if you put your mind to it!

[Politicub]

15. Check off the list - the "this has already been explained" post

Took a while to show up, though.

[silvershadow]

14. Oh puh-leeze...THis is just the kind of sleazy, slimy, under-belly of a snake

kind of almost-non-story I've ever heard of I think. Honestly. I'm not even going to respond right now until I collect myself, but...while we are on the subject of the FEC: Have they issued a report on their investigation of the HRC campaign for violations during the planning of her campaign yet? You know- the one where she hired a bunch of staff and had them designing and building out her headquarters 3 months prior to when she ended her "Cash for Wall-Street speeches" tour? (The ones we never got the transcripts for!!!) Grr.

[Politicub]

19. And the "Hillary's fault" post makes an appearance.

With a bonus mention of the transcripts.

[silvershadow]

23. Not Hillary's fault. Just a sleazy, slimy, underbelly of a snake kind of nonsensical

drama post with no real impact, I am sure. Meanwhile, Hillary's blatant and flagrant FEC major violations go untalked about, AGAIN.

[LiberalArkie]

16. He should be kicked out of the race and the Senate as he is obviously the only candidate

who is pulling tactics like this. I think HRC and Trump always been upfront with their tax information and never have have to amend or correct the information.

We need to purge the party of dishonest people.

[Politicub]

22. The "Everyone is dishonest 'cept Bernie" excuse.

Less interesting than some of the other Bernie supporter spin attempts, but just as predictable.

[LiberalArkie]

28. Nope, I just don't like dishonest people that I vote for. In fact I will not vote for a dishonest

person. I like him but if it comes out that it is correct, I will just not vote for him.

[Surya Gayatri]

20. "The Pure One" has been caught with his figurative pants down? Heaven forfend, say it ain't so...

No surprise really, with those grifters he's got on his campaign team. Just a gang of con artists.

[silvershadow]

31. nope. Just caught up in the flurry of a rather outstanding and frankly, overwhelming

campaign. I am 100% certain anything in they are talking about will be/has been dealt with. These kinds of clerical issues pale in comparison to Hillary's flagrant and rather stunning violations of FEC rules was quite in-your-face: The hiring of campaign staffers and building out a headquarters while still on the speaking circuit to Wall Street for absolutely stunning amounts of cash? Wow...And, where are those damn transcripts? You sure don't have to produce them, but without them, I can only assume the worst...

[leftofcool]

49. Horse shit! There is software available for this

Easy to use. Maybe Bernie will find that software where he keeps his back taxes?

[silvershadow]

53. Yeah, isn't it a pity that neither of theses minor issues rises to that level of seriousness

that Sec. Clinton's multiple major issues do? There's just no "there" there By the way, the reason the transcripts are of paramount importance to me is that I'm just not sure that what she said comports with this "new, and improved" image she is trying to portray.

[xocet]

24. This is not LBN. It's a Daily KOS opinion piece. n/t

[silvershadow]

33. ^^^This. Someone needs to lock this thread. nt

[imagine2015]

41. That's right.

[apnu]

52. Wait, its DailyKos' OPINION that the FEC reported Bernie of violations?

What, pray tell, then isn't opinion?

[progressoid]

55. The last paragraph is a clear example of an opinion/analysis.

[The Wizard]

36. Congratulations on attaining full ignore (NT)

[imagine2015]

37. The author of the article, Brysynner, is a "Navy Vet 4 Hillary" working for the Clinton campaign.

Brysynner's Profile

A Navy Veteran as of 2014, Working in the District, Ready for Hillary

Just another standard hit piece.

[ronnykmarshall]

43. Oh dear

[20score]

45. What utter fucking bullshit!

And of course those who only pretend to like democracy would gloat. Terrible citizens, terrible people.

Even if anything comes of this, only the truly insane or sociopathic liars would say laws were set up to stop individuals from financing a campaign with no possible way to get anything in return.

Meanwhile, open bribery is taking place on a massive scale that makes true democracy, or even a representative democracy, impossible.

We are so fucked as a country, and so many deserve a bought and paid for government. Too bad the millions who deserve better, may not get it; because of the usual suspects.

[hellofromreddit]

47. Yeah, a damning 6 pages of "Please amend..."

Clearly, the campaign should deal with this. But at this point there really is nothing nefarious going on.

And from the looks of those lists, many over-payments have been found and refunded already.

[progressoid]

48. LBN rules: No analysis or opinion pieces.

[SheilaT]

54. And considering that Hillary has held fundraisers

in other countries, I'm finding it difficult to believe that she hasn't had similar problems of illegal foreign donations. Or that some people haven't contributed more than that pesky $2,700 limit.

On the other hand, I bet she has accountants who are sufficiently savvy as to know how to hide those things. Bernie's problem is that he's painfully honest, which is why these donations got reported in the first place.

[Cali_Democrat]

56. Holding fundraisers in other countries isn't against the law

as long as those contributing to her campaign are American citizens.

[wendylaroux]

57. Oh dear!!!! damning???/!!!!! ya drama queen!!!!

[Jopin Klobe]

58. Yeah ... sure ... she's as pure as the driven snow ...

Clinton fundraising leaves little for state parties

"The Democratic front-runner says she's raising big checks to help state committees, but they've gotten to keep only 1 percent of the $60 million raised."

..."what happens to the cash after that initial distribution is left almost entirely to the discretion of the Clinton campaign. Its chief operating officer, Beth Jones, is the treasurer of the victory fund. And FEC filings show that within a day of most transfers from the victory fund to the state parties, identical sums were transferred from the state party accounts to the DNC, which Sanders’ supporters have accused of functioning as an adjunct of the Clinton campaign.

For example, the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party received $43,500 from the victory fund on Nov. 2, only to transfer the same amount to the DNC that same day. The pattern repeated itself after the Minnesota party received transfers from the victory fund of $20,600 on Dec. 1 (the party sent the same amount to the DNC the next day) and $150,000 on Jan. 4 (it transferred the same amount to the DNC that day).

That means that Minnesota’s net gain from its participation in the victory fund was precisely $0 through the end of March. Meanwhile, the DNC pocketed an extra $214,100 in cash routed through Minnesota — much of which the DNC wouldn’t have been able to accept directly, since it came from donors who had mostly had already maxed out to the national party committee." ...
[link:http://www.politico.com/story/2016/04/clinton-fundraising-leaves-little-for-state-parties-222670|

[left-of-center2012]

61. A distraction from Hillary's Wall Street speeches

Nice maneuver on the Clintonistas' part.

[xocet]

63. To the hosts of LBN...

Respectfully - what actual reporter would characterize the letter as "...damning 639 pages of violations..."?

Some of the pages contain multiple listing of donations by single individuals.

Case in point: Jexxxx Abramxxxxx - his first 27 donations (listed on page 1 of 639) total $1296.65; his next 41 donations (listed on page 2 of 639) total $1158.41. Together this is $2455.06. Every donation listed on these two pages has not violated the $2700 limit. Is it correct to describe, the "released" letter as "639 pages of violations"?

http://docquery.fec.gov/pdf/847/201605100300045847/201605100300045847.pdf

Is that accurate reporting or is it merely an opinion piece which is full of spin? I have listed a counterexample to the title of the opinion piece. There is at least one page that shows no violations per se.

Are you interested in maintaining DU as a decent news source or allowing it to be perverted by this sort of misuse?

[20score]

68. Thanks, good work on your part!

[LostOne4Ever]

73. LOCKING THREAD

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