NEW! FEC releases damning 639 pages of violations by Bernie Sanders campaign (HRC GP)

[Her Sister]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/5/11/1525428/-FEC-releases-damning-639-pages-of-violations-by-Bernie-Sanders-campaign

The Federal Elections Campaign released a letter to the Bernie Sanders campaign detailing campaign finance issues they have with his campaign with the latest forms Bernie 2016 filed. Now to be fair to Bernie, his campaign has refunded some of the people who donated more than $2,700 back in December and January, however there have been no listed refunds since then. To note this paperwork requires a response by 6/14/16 which just happens to be the day of the final primary so IF Bernie responds it will be as DC is filling out the last votes of the primary.

Some highlights include:

Actor/Bernie Supporter Mark Ruffalo continuing to donate after reaching his $2,700 limit and the campaign not refunding the excess money
Ahmed Abdelmeguid (highlighting him because he is first on the list) donating $12,604.05 from Jan 1st to March 31st
Someone named Scott Walker (and I highly doubt it’s the Wisconsin governor but I find it funny) donating $2,825.31
Attachment page 1 through the top of 595 are all donations that are above the $2,700.00 limit that have yet to be refunded. A lot of this is people making multiple donations and they may not realize they hit the $2,700 limit, though in the case of people like Mark Ruffalo who received a refund for reaching the limit and continuing to donate there is known deceit by the donator in my opinion

Now the fun part comes from pages 595 through 638 which are all foreign donations to the campaign and the last page is refunds that have no corresponding donation, just Bernie 2016 giving money to people randomly for no reason (which is probably the most innocent of the bunch since it is 100% possible that with all the donations there was a mistake in filing)

Just so everyone’s aware this is not just a problem with Bernie’s March filings, he also had a problem back with his February filing as well. In February he had a 264 page attachment with all his campaigns illegal donations received. That attachment has pages 1-241 have illegal donations over $2,700 that were not refunded and pages 241-263 of illegal donations and again the last page was money returned without an itemized reason.

By the way these are problems that Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump do not have at all. This is a uniquely Bernie Sanders problem, one that brings questions about his understanding of campaign finance laws, his team’s understanding of those same laws and whether or not there is a knowing plan to deceive the FEC in order to raise funds

[Her Sister]

1. FEC letter dated May 10th 2016

http://docquery.fec.gov/pdf/847/201605100300045847/201605100300045847.pdf

Image# 201605100300045847
RQ-2
FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20463
May 10, 2016
SUSAN JACKSON, TREASURER
BERNIE 2016
PO BOX 905
BURLINGTON, VT 05402

IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: C00577130

REFERENCE: AMENDED APRIL MONTHLY REPORT (03/01/2016 - 03/31/2016),
RECEIVED 04/22/2016

Dear Treasurer:
Response Due Date
06/14/2016
This letter is prompted by the Commission's preliminary review of the report referenced
above. This notice requests information essential to full public disclosure of your
federal election campaign finances. Failure to adequately respond by the response
date noted above could result in an audit or enforcement action. Additional
information is needed for the following 8 item(s):
1. The totals listed on Line(s) 17(a)(iii), 17(e), 22, 23, and 30, Column B-P of
the Detailed Summary Page appear to be incorrect. Column B-P figures for the
Summary and Detailed Summary Pages should equal the sum of the Column
B-P figures on your previous report and the Column A-P figures on this report.
Please file an amendment to your report to correct the Column B-P
discrepancies for this report and all subsequent report(s) which may be affected
by this correction. Note that Column B-P should reflect only the election
cycle-to-date totals (11/7/12 through 11/8/16). (52 U.S.C. § 30104(b) (formerly
2 U.S.C. § 434(b)) and 11 CFR § 104.3)
2. Schedule A-P of your report discloses one or more contributions that appear
to exceed the limits set forth in the Act (see attached).

An individual or a political committee other than an authorized committee or
qualified multi-candidate committee may not make a contribution(s) to a
candidate for federal office in excess of $2,700 per election. An authorized
committee may not make a contribution(s) to a candidate for federal office in
excess of $2,000 per election. A qualified multi-candidate committee and all
affiliated committees may not make a contribution(s) to a candidate for federal
office in excess of $5,000 per election. The term "contribution" includes any
gift, subscription, loan, advance, or deposit of money or anything of value
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made by any person for the purpose of influencing any election for federal
office. (52 U.S.C. § 30116(a) and (f) (formerly 2 U.S.C. § 441a(a) and (f)); 11
CFR § 110.1(b), (e) and (k))

If any apparently excessive contribution in question was incompletely or
incorrectly disclosed, you must amend your original report with the clarifying
information. If any contribution you received exceeds the limits, you may have
to refund the excessive amount.

Excessive contributions may be retained if, within 60 days of receipt, the
excessive portions are properly redesignated or reattributed. Guidelines for
each option are provided below.

For reattributions, excessive contributions from individuals can be retained if,
within 60 days of receipt, the excessive amount is properly reattributed to
another person. Please note that reattributions only apply to excessive
contributions from individuals. An excessive contribution is considered
properly reattributed if (1) the contributors provide the committee with written
documentation, signed by each contributor, authorizing a reattribution and
indicating the amount of the contribution to be attributed to each contributor; or
(2) the committee reattributes by presumption the excessive portion of the
contribution if the contribution was made on a written instrument from a joint
account and was signed by only one of the account holders. In this case, the
treasurer must notify the contributors in writing within 60 days of receiving the
contribution that the committee intends to reattribute the excessive portion and
must give the contributor an opportunity to request a refund. (11 CFR §
110.1(k)(3)(ii)(B))

For redesignations, the funds can be retained if, within 60 days of receipt, the
excessive amount is properly redesignated for a different election. An
excessive contribution is considered properly redesignated if (1) the committee
obtains signed written documentation from the contributor(s) authorizing the
redesignation of the contribution for another election, provided that the new
designation does not exceed the limitations on contributions made with respect
to that election; or (2) your committee redesignates by presumption the
excessive portion of the contribution for another election provided that the new
designation does not exceed the limitations on contributions made with respect
to that election. In this case, the treasurer must notify the contributor of the
redesignation in writing within 60 days of the treasurer's receipt of the
contribution. The notification must give the contributor an opportunity to
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request a refund. (11 CFR § 110.1(b)(5)(ii)(B)) Please note that you cannot
presumptively redesignate an excessive contribution from a multi-candidate
committee. Also, a contribution can only be redesignated to a previous election
to the extent that the contribution does not exceed the committee's net debts
outstanding for that election. (11 CFR § 110.1(b)(3)(i))

If the foregoing conditions for reattributions or redesignations are not met
within 60 days of receipt of the contribution, the excessive amount must be
refunded. See 11 CFR § 103.3(b)(1).

Please inform the Commission of your corrective action immediately in writing
and provide photocopies of any refund checks and/or letters reattributing or
redesignating the contributions in question. Refunds are reported on Line 28(a),
(b), or (c), as applicable, of the Detailed Summary Page and on a supporting
Schedule B-P of the report covering the period in which they are made.
Redesignations and reattributions are reported as memo entries on Schedule
A-P of the report covering the period in which the authorization for the
redesignation and/or reattribution is received. (11 CFR § 104.8(d)(2), (3) and
(4))

Although the Commission may take further legal action concerning the
acceptance of excessive contributions, your prompt action to refund,
redesignate, and/or reattribute the excessive amount will be taken into
consideration.
3. Schedule A-P (see attached) discloses a contribution(s) from an individual(s)
who has a mailing address outside of the United States of America. Please be
advised that 52 U.S.C. § 30121(a) (formerly 2 U.S.C. § 441e(a)) and 11 CFR §
110.20 prohibit foreign nationals from making contributions in connection with
any election for political office or in connection with any primary election,
convention, or caucus held to select candidates for any political office.

If the apparently prohibited contribution(s) in question was incompletely or
incorrectly disclosed, you should amend your original report with clarifying
information.

If your committee follows the safe harbor guidelines outlined under 11 CFR §
110.20(a)(7) for all contributions received from a foreign address to ensure that
the sources of these contributions are not foreign nationals, please provide a
detailed description of your procedures. These procedures must be used in all
cases where a contributor or donor uses a foreign passport or passport number
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for identification purposes, provides a foreign address, makes a contribution or
donation by means of a check or other written instrument drawn on a foreign
bank or by wire transfer from a foreign bank, or resides abroad. A committee is
deemed to have conducted a reasonable inquiry into the contributor or donor's
nationality if you seek and obtain copies of current and valid U.S. passport
papers for U.S. citizens. No person may rely on this safe harbor if he or she has
actual knowledge that the source of the funds solicited, accepted, or received is
a foreign national.

If you have received a contribution from a foreign national, you must refund
the impermissible contribution to the donor in accordance with 11 CFR §
103.3(b). Please inform the Commission of your corrective action immediately
in writing and provide a photocopy of your check for the refund. In addition,
any refunds should be disclosed on Schedule B supporting Line 28(a) of the
report during which the transaction was made. Although the Commission may
take further legal action concerning the acceptance of a prohibited
contribution(s), prompt action on your part to refund or provide clarifying
information concerning these contributions will be taken into consideration.
4. Schedule B-P supporting Line 28(a) of your report discloses refunds to
individuals. It appears that your committee has not reported the receipt of the
original contributions and/or has refunded an amount greater than the original
contributions for the attached contributors. Please clarify these refunds and
amend your report(s) as necessary. (52 U.S.C. § 30104(b) (formerly 2 U.S.C. §
434(b)) and 11 CFR § 104.3(a))
5. Itemized disbursements must include a brief statement or description of why
each disbursement was made. Please amend Schedule B-P supporting Line 23
of your report to clarify the following description(s): "Staff Reimbursement."
For further guidance regarding acceptable purposes of disbursement, please
refer to 11 CFR 104.3(b)(4)(i)(A).

Additional clarification regarding inadequate purposes of disbursement
published in the Federal Register can be found at http://www.fec.gov/law/
policy/purposeofdisbursement/inadequate_purpose_list_3507.pdf.
6. Schedule B-P of your report discloses reimbursements to individuals for the
following disbursement(s): "Printing/Office Supplies" and "Staff
Reimbursement." Please be advised that when itemizing reimbursements to
individuals for goods or services, if the payment to the original vendor
aggregates in excess of $200 in an election cycle, a memo entry including the
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name and address of the original vendor, as well as the date, amount and
purpose of the original purchase must be provided. Please amend your report to
include the missing information on Schedule B-P and clearly identify each
memo entry supporting a reimbursement. If itemization is not necessary, you
must indicate so in an amendment to this report. (11 CFR §§104.3(b)(4)(i) and
104.9, and Advisory Opinions 1992-1 and 1996-20, footnote 3)
7. Schedule B-P of your report discloses disbursements with the purpose petty
cash that appear to be made from petty cash. Please be advised that cash
disbursements to any person or vendor for any single purchase or transaction
may not exceed $100. If payments to the original vendor exceed $200 in an
election cycle, a memo entry including the name of the original vendor as well
as address, date, amount, and purpose of the original purchase must be
provided. Please amend your report to include the missing information or
provide clarifying information if memo items are not required. (52 U.S.C.
§30102(h)(2) (formerly 2 U.S.C. §432(h)(2)) and 11 CFR § 102.11)
8. Schedule B-P of your report discloses reimbursements to individuals for the
following travel related disbursement(s): "Travel Reimbursement". When the
reimbursement amount to individuals for travel and subsistence advances
exceeds $500, the payments by staff to any one vendor that make up the
reimbursement may have to be itemized. For example, if the related payments
to any one vendor aggregate in excess of $200 for the election cycle, the staff
advance payment to the vendor must also be itemized in a memo entry for that
reimbursement. Each memo entry must include the complete name and address
of the original vendor, as well as the date, amount and detailed purpose of the
advance. If itemization is not necessary for a particular reimbursement to staff
in excess of $500, you must indicate so in an amendment to this report. Please
amend your report to include the missing or clarifying information. See
Advisory Opinion 1996-20 for additional clarification. (11 CFR § 104.9)
Please note, you will not receive an additional notice from the Commission on this
matter. Adequate responses must be received by the Commission on or before the due
date noted above to be taken into consideration in determining whether audit action will
be initiated. Failure to comply with the provisions of the Act may also result in an
enforcement action against the committee. Any response submitted by your committee
will be placed on the public record and will be considered by the Commission prior to
taking enforcement action. Requests for extensions of time in which to respond will
not be considered.
Electronic filers must file amendments (to include statements, designations and reports)
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in an electronic format and must submit an amended report in its entirety, rather than
just those portions of the report that are being amended. If you should have any
questions regarding this matter or wish to verify the adequacy of your response, please
contact me on our toll-free number [phone] (at the prompt press 5 to reach the
Reports Analysis Division) or my local number [phone].

Sincerely,
Bradley Matheson
Sr. Campaign Finance & Reviewing Analyst
Reports Analysis Division

[Iamaartist]

17. Good findings ...........thank-you

[TwilightZone]

2. Organization does not seem to be his campaign's strong suit

Wouldn't it be a good idea to work these things out before filing? $2700 is $2700. Doesn't take a genius to figure out that some of these were violations and should be resolved before filing the docs.

[LaydeeBug]

3. Will there be investigations? Or does your last name have to be Clinton for that? nt

[yallerdawg]

4. He has another problem.

While Sanders is still attracting thousands to rallies, his campaign has grown harder as Clinton closes in on the nomination. His fundraising has fallen off and so, too, has his advertising, with only about $525,000 in ads planned for California and $63,000 each in West Virginia and Oregon, according to advertising tracker Kantar Media's CMAG.

That's a significant decline from the wall-to-wall advertising campaign he ran earlier in the primary, during which his $74 million in ads outspent Clinton by $14 million.

Edward Milam, of Cross Lanes, West Virginia, is a self-described socialist who gave money to the Sanders campaign but his vote Tuesday to Clinton.

"After about six-seven months of debating and watching, I think Hillary has a lot more to offer than Bernie internationally," the 68-year-old retiree said. "I think she handles herself well. I've known about her for 30 years, just like everybody else has. I don't think there will be any surprises."

http://bigstory.ap.org/47ef6847b99d4c618944ee440918e487

[liberal N proud]

5. Ironic coming from the man who doesn't want to hear about Hillary's problems.

[Her Sister]

6. I think he projects and projects!

And any accusations coming from his campaign are also just projections!

[puffy socks]

7. Oh yes

projection and gaslighting are a highlight of Sanders and his supporters.

[William769]

8. Well we all know none of them are any good with math.

[NurseJackie]

14. You're reading my mind, Bill! :-P

[Koinos]

9. His campaign is all about money (income inequality).

But his own campaign finances are a mess.

And he expects to govern a multi-trillion dollar economy?

[SaschaHM]

10. The campaign knows that it's doing...

they're trying to run up the score with illicit contributions knowing that they can just refund them with more donations after winning a state/nomination. Mark Ruffalo can give Bernie a boost in his weekly spending knowing that he can be refunded a month later with new donations after Bernie has already bought, paid for, and used the new ads.

[Her Sister]

11. There is a deadline Today from the FEC letter before this last one... about a month ago

So Tomorrow we might get more information about the last batch of FEC violations!

[Koinos]

13. I hope we hear about the $10 million in small donations made in 2015 in a single day in DC.

That is one heck of a head-scratcher.

[Koinos]

12. If new donations keep declining, the campaign will be in the red.

Intentional or not, it makes the campaign look very bad. It looks like Bernie cannot manage money in a campaign, much less as president of the United States. And eventually, there will be a tipping point where new contributions will not be enough to both fuel the campaign and pay back refunds. The campaign has been losing while spending like a drunken sailor. It has been living excessively beyond its means -- not a good example to set for donors. The Vatican fiasco was a prime example of that extravagance.

[jmowreader]

15. Egyptian River Syndrome is strong in the comments

"Oh noes! He's taking Contributions from Millions of People, how could he possibly track them all?" Well gee dude, maybe if he wasn't running his campaign on two abacuses and the computer he bought in Moscow in 1998, he COULD track them all!

[Koinos]

16. He could have spent a little less on Revolutionary Messaging

and a little more on computer hardware and software, as well as trained accountants.

[comradebillyboy]

18. Could it be ... corruption?

[mcar]

19. K&R

[Fla Dem]

20. Where are his tax returns? Is Jane still working on them? I know she's been busy with all the

media interviews she's given lately, but geez; priorities!

[wysi]

21. He's still trying to raise money

A post from one of my BS-supporting FB friends just showed up in my feed. "I'm the best candidate to beat Trump!" it says, with a DONATE NOW button below. Ignoring his incorrect use of the superlative rather than the comparative, I was very unhappy to have to look at that stupid post and BS's mug.

[Cha]

22. Mark Ruffalo continuing to donate after reaching his $2,700 limit and the campaign not refunding the

excess money"

Stop it Mark.. you're getting BS into trouble since he can't bring it on himself to send back the money.