Posted on 07/22/2010 6:05:52 PM PDT by Brytani
The Republican National Committee failed to report more than $7 million in debt to the Federal Election Commission in recent months - a move that made its bottom line appear healthier than it is heading into the midterm elections and that also raises the prospect of a hefty fine.
In a memo to RNC budget committee members, RNC Treasurer Randy Pullen on Tuesday accused Chairman Michael S. Steele and his chief of staff, Michael Leavitt, of trying to conceal the information from him by ordering staff not to communicate with the treasurer - a charge RNC officials deny.
Mr. Pullen told the members that he had discovered $3.3 million in debt from April and $3.8 million from May, which he said had led him to file erroneous reports with the FEC. He amended the FEC filings Tuesday.
Campaign-finance analysts said that simply misreporting fundraising numbers to the FEC can lead to millions of dollars in fines and that criminal charges can be levied if the actions are suspected to be intentional.
"This is significant because the civil penalties could mean big fines that take a significant bite out of the RNC's finances close to the November congressional elections, when state parties need the RNC's financial help for their 'victory' programs," said former FEC Commissioner Hans A. von Spakovsky.
RNC Communications Director Doug Heye said that it was "standard practice" for party committees to file amended reports on their financial activities to comply with extensive FEC disclosure requirements.
"We have always followed the guidelines of our legal counsel and treasurer and have put in place additional oversight to ensure that all invoices are handled in a proper, open and transparent manner," Mr. Heye said in an e-mail statement.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Steele is an idiot.
Anyone who contributes to the RNC, NRSC or NRCC is a fool.
Worse than an idiot. The way he’s run the party (and now this) leads me to believe he intends to hand every coming election to the Dems.
So afraid of being called racists that they would stay with him even if he stole the 7 million....
“In a memo to RNC budget committee members, RNC Treasurer Randy Pullen on Tuesday accused Chairman Michael S. Steele and his chief of staff, Michael Leavitt, of trying to conceal the information from him by ordering staff not to communicate with the treasurer - a charge RNC officials deny.”
The Stupid Party
Steele’s term can’t be up soon enough. I don’t think he’ll be forced out before the November elections, though.
I, too, have thought the same.
When is the GOP gonna get rid of this sabateur?
Wonder if he’d take 7 million to leave?
Steele has to go. >>>>>>>>>
Big donors won’t give until he’s gone
Didn’t a political pundit just write an editorial stating Steele should move to the DNC? The writer was correct.
More Journolisting.
Debts were paid in June.
But it makes negative headlines, to demoralize Republicans...
Yesterday would not be soon enough for me!!
Why does Steele still have the job?
GET THIS BOOOB STEELE OUT OF THERE!!!
The debts have been paid and that is the smallest of this story.
That Steele refused people to provide information to the party treasurer and that the FEC report was only updated two days ago is the real story.
*Steele*, hmmm...
(At least he can't steal the RNCs virtue, it was already long gone.)
The Republican National Committee failed to report more than $7 million in debt to the Federal Election Commission in recent months -- a move that made its bottom line appear healthier than it is heading into the midterm elections and that also raises the prospect of a hefty fine.Time to start organizing taser-equipped "poll watchers" and heavily armed backup keeping things under observation from nearby.
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