Posted on 10/17/2006 6:56:00 AM PDT by aculeus
WASHINGTON — Senator Reid, the Democrat leader, has been using campaign donations instead of his personal money to pay Christmas bonuses for the support staff at the Ritz-Carlton where he lives in an upscale condominium.
Federal election law bars candidates from converting political donations for personal use.
Questioned about the campaign expenditures by the Associated Press, Mr. Reid's office said yesterday he was personally reimbursing his campaign for $3,300 in donations he had directed to the staff holiday fund at his residence.
[snip]
... Mr. Reid gave $600 in 2002, then $1,200 in 2004, and $1,500 in 2005 from his reelection campaign to an entity listed as the REC Employee Holiday Fund. His campaign listed the expenses as campaign "salary"for two of the years and as a "contribution" one year. Mr. Reid's office said the listing as salary was a "clerical error."
Residents and workers at the Ritz said the fund's full name is the Residents Executive Committee Holiday Fund and that it collects money each year from the condominium residents to help provide Christmas gifts, bonuses and a party for the support staff.
Federal election law permits campaigns to provide "gifts of nominal value" but prohibits candidates from using political donations for personal expenses, such as mortgage, rent or utilities for "any part of any personal residence."
(Excerpt) Read more at nysun.com ...
So what.. He's a Democrat do you expect anything less?
Just need to ammend the record and pay the fine.
That is all the MSM needs, you might notice there is still lots of Foley stuff around but no Reed.
Funny how the activist liberal MSM has been mostly silent on the, very real, Harry Reid scandal compared to, say, Mark Foley. Is anyone surprised?
Which means it's time for the Dems and MSM to say "Enough with scandals, let's get back to the people's business."
Bump!
Not only is it illegal, he is cheap in the process.
He should resign for that alone.
Its amazing how these politicians can just stand up and spew crap about the "other" party..but at the same time ...break the law......how would you like to have him as a business partner...
Hastert is getting creamed for something someone else did.
Reid sails by even though he himself is guilty.
Contacted in retirement, Tom Daschle, Reid's predecesor, said he is "saddened, saddened."
Good luck getting a mostly apolitical electorate whipped up over $3,300. Somehow I don't think this revelation is going to get Joe Sixpack fired up to oust his local dem rep.
Meanwhile, the FBI finds time to investigate Warner for far less allegations. And the media is still beating a dead horse on Foley.
2002, 2004, and 2005
That is not a one-time clerical error. That is persistent misue of funds. Creating a climate of misue of funds and abuse of public trust, aka--the RAT party leadership.
But Max Cleland, that paragon of virtue whose carelessness with a grenade during a beer run turned him into a war hero, says he's never known a more ethical man than Reid.
I mean, that should settle the matter, shouldn't it?
Man of the People, and lives at the Ritz-Carlton?
Gee, what a surprise.
I must say, Mr. Reid strikes me as one of the biggest maggots in Washington, DC in a long time. I swear, one just wants to smack him in the puss with a large Boston Cream Pie.
Phew. Feel better now.
What a cheapskate! 2004 was the year he pocketed a $700,000 profit on his "mis-reported" land deal. But he couldn't even pay his Christmas tips out of his own pocket?!
----------------------
His campaign listed the expenses as campaign "salary" for two of the years and as a "contribution" one year.
Now, THAT is a downright LIE. How could he "mistakenly" call it salary?!
drip.... drip.... drip....
ping
Yes, Tom Daschle is "disappointed".
It's that Democrat "culture of corruption" again.
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