FACT CHECK: Is Buttigieg's campaign funded by billionaires?

[TomCADem]

Bernie just making up facts again. First, Bloomberg has a history of heart attacks. Now, Buttigieg is funded by billionaires.

https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/democratic-debate-south-carolina-live-stream-cbs-news-2020-02-25/

CLAIM: Sanders has criticized Buttigieg for having a campaign funded by billionaires.
SANDERS' CLAIM:. "Pete has gotten funding from over 50 billionaires."
BUTTIGIEG'S CLAIM: Something that is untrue about my campaign, the idea that my campaign is funded by billionaires.
SANDERS: I didn't say that Pete.
BUTTIGIEG: "50 people, all right, in Charleston alone, just in Charleston, over 2,000 people have contributed to my campaign. That means the dollars that have come to my campaign just from Charleston is more than the dollars that have come from the fifty people that you mention."

FACT CHECK: Sanders: not true. Buttigieg has 40 billionaires supporting him.
Buttigieg: Mostly true (not enough data available for part of check).

[BootinUp]

1. Buttigieg wins though for an excellent retort. Nt

[frazzled]

2. He finally made the point that

The 40 billionaires gave the legal limit of $2,800 (which is like 28 cents to the rest of us). That adds up to $112,000.

But still, the insulation has been that 40 (or incorrectly 50) billionaires have given him millions each.

[StevieM]

4. I think you meant to say "insinuation," not "insulation." (eom)

[frazzled]

5. Autocorrect wins again!

Typing on an iPad is like having the devil putting bad words in your mouth. 😈

[Celerity]

3. out of 100 million USD or so Pete has raised, those 40 account for only 112,000 in total

Also Bernie is running a dark money op (Our Revolution) that not only refuses to disclose donors, but is quite likely violating campaign finance law.

Watchdog files FEC complaint against pro-Sanders nonprofit

https://apnews.com/cd7a58676b6fc8cbe2f9783f469d0bee

WASHINGTON (AP) — The watchdog group Common Cause filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission on Wednesday, alleging that Our Revolution, a political nonprofit organization founded by Bernie Sanders, violated campaign finance law by accepting donations in excess of federal limits while boosting his White House ambitions. The complaint comes after The Associated Press reported earlier this month about the donations.

Our Revolution denies any wrongdoing. Spokesman Paco Fabian called the complaint “meritless” and “legally flawed.” Sanders’ campaign did not respond to a request for comment. The campaign finance act says groups established by federal officeholders or candidates cannot raise money for federal electoral activity that exceeds the limitations of the law. Those contributions are currently set at $2,800 for candidates and $5,000 for political action committees.

Our Revolution has taken in nearly $1 million from donors whose contributions exceeded those limits and whose identities it hasn’t fully disclosed, according to tax filings for 2016, 2017 and 2018. Much of it came from donors who contributed six-figure sums. The group has paid for some social media ads backing Sanders’ campaign and is working to turn out voters who will support the senator in the Democratic presidential primary. The group will not have to disclose its 2020 spending until after the election.

“Because Sanders set up Our Revolution and they have raised and spent money in candidate elections, Our Revolution is required to comply with contribution limits, register with the FEC and discloses its donors — but it hasn’t,” said Paul S. Ryan, an attorney for Common Cause. “It’s his establishment of the group that triggers these laws. That means a $5,000 limit, full donor disclosure and no contributions from prohibited sources.”

Candidates are barred from accepting contributions from corporations, labor unions, federal contractors and foreign nationals. The group does not fully disclose who its contributors are. For years, Sanders has railed against the torrent of money allowed to flood the political system following the Supreme Court’s landmark 2010 Citizens United decision. But he has saved special ire for super political action committees, or super PACs. Our Revolution is not a super PAC. But the tax-exempt political nonprofit functions much like one — but without having to reveal its donors. Like super PACs, these nonprofits were similarly empowered to raise and spend unlimited sums after the Citizens United decision.


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