Can foreigners make indirect contributions to US candidates?

[Stinky The Clown]

Here's what crossed my mind ......

What if there were a clearing house that put lefties in touch with overseas supporters and the overseas supporter gave a $2000 (or $1000, or $500) gift to the US lefty, who in turn donates it to a candidate? Obviously, this would have to be a lefty who would not otherwise be able to afford a serious contribution.

Assuming we could insure that the lefty recipient would indeed donate all the bux he gets, is this possible? Is it legal?

I have no doubt there are many in the world who would like to see a return to political sanity in the US.

[papau]

1. they can and do - they establish an "American" company which donates

:-)

[da_chimperor]

2. Yup, one of those Delaware based LLC's and they can donate

totally anonymously.

[Stinky The Clown]

3. Isn't a company bound by limits?

I'm talking about leveraging all less financially able constituents into donors by having them accept much more money and then donate it than companies might be able to donate.

[papau]

9. register a few folk as employees - and the emplyees can donate!

:-)

[sam sarrha]

4. so..People on the Board who already donated can vote to give other peoples

money, that would have been dividends. to the same party they maxed out their own campaign contributions to, too.

is that legal..:shrug: :wow: ???

[papau]

10. it can not be money given to donate - but a wink-wink bonus is not

unusual

[Dr Ron]

5. What about 527's?

I don't believe there are any restrictions on foreigners contributing to 527's. Someone who could not legally contribute to a candidate could contribute to a 527 which supports the candidate they want.

[Todd B]

6. IIRC

I don't think non-United States citizens can make direct donations to a political candidate. Didn't Kerry get in to a problem when he received a $2,000 donation for a Korean man? I think that you have to show a SSN and provide your employment information.

I'm not sure about PAC's, however. I think that anyone can donate to them (MoveOn.org, etc.).

[Stinky The Clown]

7. I understand all that, what I am asking is

can a foreign entity (person, company, group, association, whatever) make a **gift** to a US citizen and the US citizen in turn donates the gift to a political candidate? On the surface, that seems legal. And if we assume the amount, per person, is below whatever the currency laws are required to follow and track ($5000? $10000? not sure of the actiual number) then it should even be unnoticed.

Now, add another layer. A known organization that matches these foreign "gift givers" with US citizens. The US citizen receives the money and makes the contribution.

The organization does the coordinating and promoting of the program. A coordinated effort. Is this legal? Does it violate campaign finance laws? Conspiracy laws? Or is it simply driving through a huge loophole in the law?

[sam sarrha]

8. can you say ...C..O..S..P..I..R..A..C..Y

[papau]

11. NO - as with US company bonus - it has to be contracts that

earn a lot that allow the US side to donate. In 96 Barber - the GOP gov but then the head of the RNC - took red china money - but from "companies"