Campaign investigation clears Democrats in three states

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

HONOLULU The Federal Election Commission says that the Democratic Party in three states did NOT break federal campaign contribution laws when they gave money to a U-S Senate candidate from Rhode Island last year.

The Democratic Party in Hawaii, Maine and Massachusetts funneled a total of 25 thousand dollars to Rhode Island Secretary of State Matt Brown in December 2005. He was seeking the Democratic Senate nomination. Three of Brown's top donors contributed a total of 28 thousand dollars back to the out-of-state parties that had made the donations to Brown's campaign. In each case, the donor had already given Brown the maximum allowed under federal law.

The Hawaii Republican Party complained that Brown's campaign broke campaign finance laws.

Read more: http://www.eyewitnessnewstv.com/Global/story.asp?S=6449838&nav=menu20_2

[truthisfreedom]

1. More Dems cleared.

More 'thugs indicted.

What's new?

[Journeyman]

2. Something doesn't sound right with that situation. . .

There's must have been more to the story because from the short explanation here it sounds like Brown's supporters definitely wanted to skirt the law. First, they give the candidate the maximum allowable, then they refunded the money out-of-state interests sent to their candidate -- effectively double-funding their candidate through sleight of hand. The only saving grace seems to be the candidate lost. Maybe that's why the FEC closed the book on it.

Perhaps someone can explain whatever extenuating circumstances exist that make what happened here ethically palatable.

[woodsprite]

3. My first thought was the article should not have used the word "funneled".

Sounds negative and alot of freepers would only read that far into the article.