McCain Is Now A Campaign Finance Criminal

[kpete]

McCain Is Now A Campaign Finance Criminal
By: Jane Hamsher Sunday March 23, 2008 4:00 pm

According to the latest Federal Election Commission report, http://query.nictusa.com/pres/2008/M3/C00430470.html John McCain has now spent $58.4 million dollars. McCain applied for public financing, and according to FEC chairman David Mason (in a letter to McCain)http://www.fec.gov/press/press2008/FECtoMcCain.PDF, he can't withdraw without permission of the FEC. So he is now legally in violation of campaign finance law.

But as Media Matters http://mediamatters.org/items/200803210006?f=h_latestpoints out, you'd never know it from reading AP writer Jim Kuhnhenn:

A March 21 Associated Press article reported that Sen. John McCain "has now spent $58.4 million in his primary bid, surpassing the $50 million limit he would have faced if he participated in the public financing system he had been certified to join." The article, by staff writer Jim Kuhnhenn, continued: "McCain has decided not to accept the public matching funds, but the FEC wants him to assure regulators that he did not use the promise of public money as collateral for the loan." Kuhnhenn also reported that "he Democratic National Committee has filed a complaint with the FEC arguing McCain cannot withdraw from the public finance system without FEC approval." In fact, as Kuhnhenn himself has noted in previous articles, in addition to the DNC, FEC Chairman David Mason has also asserted that McCain cannot legally withdraw from the public finance system without such approval.

more at:
http://firedoglake.com/2008/03/23/mccain-is-now-a-campaign-finance-criminal/

[DangerousRhythm]

1. Whoa.

Thanks for this!

[panader0]

2. Rec'd! Thanks for keeping your eyes on the real enemy kpete.

[panader0]

3. Rec'd! Thanks kpete

[BlooInBloo]

4. Doesn't matter - the press has already said they're not calling shit on Republicans....

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/03/23/chuck-todd-admits-media-gave-mccain-a-pass-over-iranal-qaeda-gaffe-and-would-have-attacked-the-dems/

EDIT: IOKIYAR has been made the offical SOP of the media.

[liberal N proud]

5. That's OK...

Rules don't apply to republicons

:sarcasm:

[AZ Criminal JD]

6. Federal Election Commission currently only has two members.

That is not a quorum. Senator Obama has a hold on the appointments so the Senate has not acted to confirm anyone. If McCain is in violation of the law nothing can be done until Obama releases the hold.

[Olney Blue]

7. Put him on the watch list- maybe they will keep him in Europe.

[InsultComicDog]

8. k&r

[warren pease]

9. Please let it be a violation of the McCain-Feingold Reform Act...

I don't have time to look it up, but if there's any justice left in this faux country...