Shadegg Accepts $10,000 in PAC Money from Maxed-Out Contributors
Posted by Matt Ortega on January 29, 2008 at 09:15 AM
Down in the southwestern desert, Arizona Democrats drafted an FEC complaint against Rep. John Shadegg (R-Phoenix, Ariz.) on the grounds that his re-election campaign is skirting donation limits through his political action committee (PAC).
Two Valley businessmen who made the maximum allowable individual donations to Shadegg's campaign in 2007 also wrote additional $5,000 checks to Shadegg's PAC, Leadership for America's Future. Eleven days later, on June 26, the PAC wrote two identical $5,000 checks to Shadegg.
Normally, such a transfer would not be noticed among thousands of dollars in contributions. But in the same reporting period, Shadegg's PAC received no other contributions and paid out only the $10,000.
Democrats accused Shadegg of using the PAC to avoid laws that prohibit donors from giving more than $2,300 to a candidate's re-election campaign in an election cycle.
Shadegg, who is up for re-election this year, said the contributions are legal because neither he nor the donors were aware that the money sent to the PAC would end up in his re-election campaign. [...]
Officials with the FEC, which regulates election finances, won't comment on the Shadegg donations, saying they can't speak on an issue they might be called to investigate.
Congressman Shadegg, as you may remember, claimed on FOX News during the intra-party election for majority leader to replace former Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Sugarland, Tex.), to have a "level of taint" lower than that of his opponents, Rep. John Boehner (R-West Chester, Ohio) and Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Springfield, Mo.).
(Hat tip: Zelph, AZNetroots)
Comments - 1 »
Comments are now closed for this entry.
