In one of the most brazen schemes in Nevada history, gubernatorial candidate Rory Reid’s campaign formed 91 shell political action committees that were used to funnel three quarters of a million dollars into his campaign, circumventing contribution limits and violating at least the spirit – and maybe the letter – of the laws governing elections.Reid, who, the paper says was fully aware of what was done, essentially received more than $750,000 from one PAC – 75 times the legal limit.
The donors were major unions, gaming companies and wealthy donors.
Economic Leadership PAC PDF
THE UNION CONTRIBUTORS
Washington DC
AFSCME $100,000
Laborers Political League Education Fund 100,000
AFSCME 50,000
Sheet Metal Workers' International 15,000
United Food and Commercial Workers 15,000
SEIU PEA International 15,000
Nevada
Nevada State Education Together in Politics 10,000
Move Nevada Forward PAC 5,000
Nevada Service Employees Union SEIU Local 1107 5,000
Vacaville, CA
IBEW Local Union 1245 25,000
The journalist reports that the funds "were then laundered through" (those are the exact words) 91 PACS that Rory Reid's campaign formed to use as conduits "to evade campaign contribution requirements."
The PACS names were designed to sound as though they were formed in rural Nevada or had innocuous names. (Complete list at story.) The Campaign and Contribution Report that was filed shows the amounts given to the newly-created PACS where the money stayed for two days before being transferred to Rory Reid’s campaign. (See How It Worked - bottom of article.) All the PACS were registered using the same Las Vegas residential address. The PACs were dissolved right after the elections.
The Sun journalist promised "more to come" including posting documents and more to show exactly what happened. Ralston is a News 3 political analyst.
Reid told the reporter that he cleared what he did with his legal counsel (his law partner.) Reid's attorney who wrote a letter to the campaign manager citing a telephone conversation with "the Deputy Secretary of State for Elections" who agreed with his interpretation. However the official (whose title is not even close to that position) provided a statement that said the attorney had asked about "bundling" and not about conduit contributions that, she says, are clearly illegal.
Reid lost the election and the Democratic Nevada Secretary of State Ross Miller has promised to look into it. Or maybe he will.
See BallotPedia entry for Miller. He was an intern for Bill Clinton so you got to wonder.
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