Tag: campaign finance

ICYMI: MN AG Keith Ellison CAUGHT ON TAPE Promising Favors to Somali Immigrant Fraudsters — Including Now-Convicted Defendants — In Exchange for Campaign Cash

A 54-minute secret recording from a December 11, 2021, closed-door meeting inside Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s official state office is resurfacing amid explosive revelations that 70 Somali community members in Minnesota participated in stealing $250 million in federal COVID child-feeding funds.

On the tape released by American Experiment earlier this year, Ellison sympathizes with, encourages, and ultimately promises assistance to a group of Somali-American business leaders, many of whom would later be charged or convicted in the largest COVID relief fraud scheme in U.S. history.

The fraudulent operation, centered around the notorious nonprofit Feeding Our Future, stole an estimated $250 million in federal child nutrition funds, money intended to feed poor children but instead used to purchase luxury homes, foreign real estate, jewelry, and lavish lifestyles.

The audio reveals Ellison mocking state agency oversight, vowing to “fight” on behalf of the very operators who investigators say were deeply involved in a web of wire fraud, money laundering, and fake meal claims across Minnesota.

Soon after (on December 20, 2021), Keith Ellison’s campaign and that of his son Jeremiah Ellison received campaign donations from individuals linked to Feeding Our Future.

Among those donors was Gandi Yusuf Mohamed, a person publicly identified as tied to laundering over $1.1 M in program funds.

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Democrat Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick Surrenders to Authorities After Allegedly Laundering $5 Million in FEMA Funds — Allegedly Bought 3.14-Carat Yellow Diamond Ring

A sitting Democratic member of Congress from Broward County, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, surrendered to federal authorities Tuesday in Miami amid explosive allegations that she orchestrated a scheme to steal and launder $5 million in FEMA COVID-19 disaster relief funds, and used a portion to bankroll her 2021 congressional campaign and purchase a luxury yellow diamond ring.

The 46-year-old Congresswoman appeared in Miami federal court in handcuffs following a 15-count federal indictment issued last week. She now faces charges including conspiracy, theft of government funds, money laundering, making and receiving straw-donor contributions, and filing false statements on her federal tax return.

According to the Department of Justice, prosecutors allege that Cherfilus-McCormick and her 51-year-old brother, Edwin Cherfilus, siphoned off $5,057,850 FEMA funds.

“The indictment alleges that the defendants conspired to steal that $5 million and routed it through multiple accounts to disguise its source. Prosecutors allege that a substantial portion of the misappropriated funds was used as candidate contributions to Cherfilus-McCormick’s 2021 congressional campaign and for the personal benefit of the defendants.

The indictment further alleges that Cherfilus-McCormick and Nadege Leblanc, 46, of Miramar, arranged additional contributions using straw donors, funneling other monies from the FEMA-funded Covid-19 contract to friends and relatives who then donated to the campaign as if using their own money.

The indictment also charges Cherfilus-McCormick and her 2021 tax preparer David K. Spencer, 41, of Davie, with conspiring to file a false federal tax return. According to the indictment, they falsely claimed political spending and other personal expenses as business deductions and inflated charitable contributions in order to reduce her tax obligations.”

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AOC email seeks donations for turkey giveaway — but money goes straight to her campaign coffers

This fundraiser is for the birds.

Power-hungry “Squad” member Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) cooked up a new way to have her cake and eat it too this Thanksgiving – by tying her annual turkey giveaway to her massive reelection campaign enterprise. And critics are crying fowl.

“Thanksgiving is two weeks away,” the self-described “Bronx girl” wrote in an email pitch last week. “Will you chip in $5 or anything you can today to help us bring the joy of the holiday season into homes around NYC this year?”

But clicking on the contribution link sends people directly to a campaign fundraising page operated by ActBlue, where donors are prompted to make a one-time or recurring monthly donation.

Selecting a dollar amount brings a disclosure that the appeal is “paid for by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for Congress” and a reminder that donations are not deductible as charitable contributions at tax time.

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Rapper Gets 14 Years in Prison for Funneling Millions of Dollars in Illegal Campaign Contributions to Obama in 2012

Rapper Prakazrel Michel, part of the pop music group the ‘Fugees,’ was sentenced to 14 years in prison this week, after being found guilty of funneling millions of dollars worth of illegal campaign contributions to Obama in 2012.

Obama’s campaign was accused of receiving illegal campaign donations in 2008 as well.

In this case, prosecutors were actually seeking a life sentence for Michel. His defense wanted a three year sentence. In the end, the court found 14 years was sufficient.

Even if the defense appeals this sentence, that could take years. Michel is going to be in prison for a while, either way.

Breitbart News reports:

Fugees Rapper Pras Michel Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison over Illegal Donations to Obama Campaign

Grammy-winning rapper Prakazrel “Pras” Michel of the Fugees was sentenced on Thursday to 14 years in prison for a case in which he was convicted of illegally funneling millions of dollars in foreign contributions to former President Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign.

Michel, 52, declined to address the court before U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly sentenced him.

In April 2023, a federal jury convicted Michel of 10 counts, including conspiracy and acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government. The trial in Washington, D.C., included testimony from actor Leonardo DiCaprio and former Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Justice Department prosecutors said federal sentencing guidelines recommended a life sentence for Michel, whom they said “betrayed his country for money” and “lied unapologetically and unrelentingly to carry out his schemes.”

“His sentence should reflect the breadth and depth of his crimes, his indifference to the risks to his country, and the magnitude of his greed,” they wrote.

Defense attorney Peter Zeidenberg said his client’s 14-year sentence is “completely disproportionate to the offense.” Michel will appeal his conviction and sentence, according to his lawyer.

Will Obama release any kind of statement? Will the press ask him about it?

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South Florida Congresswoman Charged with Stealing $5 Million in FEMA Funds and Making Illegal Campaign Contributions

A federal grand jury in Miami has returned an indictment charging Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and several co-defendants with stealing federal disaster funds, laundering the proceeds, and using the money to support her 2021 congressional campaign.

According to the indictment, Cherfilus-McCormick, 46, and her brother Edwin Cherfilus, 51, both of Miramar, worked through their family health-care company on a FEMA-funded COVID-19 vaccination staffing contract in 2021. In July 2021, the company received an overpayment of $5 million in FEMA funds.

The indictment alleges that the defendants conspired to steal that $5 million and routed it through multiple accounts to disguise its source. Prosecutors allege that a substantial portion of the misappropriated funds was used as candidate contributions to Cherfilus-McCormick’s 2021 congressional campaign and for the personal benefit of the defendants.

The indictment further alleges that Cherfilus-McCormick and Nadege Leblanc, 46, of Miramar, arranged additional contributions using straw donors, funneling other monies from the FEMA-funded Covid-19 contract to friends and relatives who then donated to the campaign as if using their own money.

The indictment also charges Cherfilus-McCormick and her 2021 tax preparer David K. Spencer, 41, of Davie, with conspiring to file a false federal tax return. According to the indictment, they falsely claimed political spending and other personal expenses as business deductions and inflated charitable contributions in order to reduce her tax obligations.

“Using disaster relief funds for self-enrichment is a particularly selfish, cynical crime,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “No one is above the law, least of all powerful people who rob taxpayers for personal gain. We will follow the facts in this case and deliver justice.”

U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida stated, “Today’s indictment shows no one is above the law. This indictment reflects our Office’s commitment to follow the facts, apply the law, and protect the American taxpayer. Public money belongs to the American people. When FEMA funds are diverted for personal or political gain, it erodes trust and harms us all. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that American taxpayer dollars are used as intended and that the public’s trust is safeguarded.”

If convicted, Cherfilus-McCormick faces up to 53 years in prison. Edwin Cherfilus faces up to 35 years, Leblanc up to 10 years, and Spencer up to 33 years.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones; Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Ronald A. Loecker of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Florida Field Office, made the announcement.

FBI Miami and the IRS-CI Florida Field Office are investigating the case.

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Another Crockett Scandal: Democrat Blew Almost $75,000 of Campaign Money on High Living

Fox News has revealed that, in the second major money scandal involving far-left Democrat Jasmine Crockett, the foul-mouthed congresswoman blew almost $75,000 on high living.

The leftist from Texas spent the campaign funds doing the town in such places as Chicago, New York City, and Martha’s Vineyard, the home and vacation destination of the far-left, hate-Trump Democratic elite.

The wasted money isn’t a good look for Crockett. Last month she was accused of shenanigans with required disclosures of her massive stock portfolio.

Not that she cares, as her chronic outrageous behavior shows.

Cui Bono?

Though Crockett represents Texas’ 30th District, which includes big city Dallas, the kooky congresswoman flitted about not only high-flying Martha’s Vineyard, but also Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and other big cities.

“Crockett’s filings show her campaign spending $25,748.87 since January on high-end hotels and limousine services,” Fox reported:

The hotel expenses include $4,175.01 at the Ritz-Carlton and $2,304.79 at The Luxury Collection. Other hotel expenses include $5,326.52 to the West Hollywood Edition in Los Angeles, $1,173.92 to the Times Square Edition in New York City, over $2,000 to the Cosmopolitan and Aria resort in Las Vegas and $2,703.14 to the Edgartown Inn and $3,160.93 at The Coco, both in Martha’s Vineyard.

Prices for a room at the Ritz-Carlton vary, and can reach more than $2,000 per night depending on location. But the five-star West Hollywood Edition charges $687 per night for a standard room with a king bed, Kayak says.

As for other expenses, Crocket threw away $6,292.30 on limousine services. One of those services was Chicago’s Transportation 4 U.

Reported Fox:

In its client gallery on Yelp, Transportation 4 U, which says it specializes in providing “top-tier limousine experiences tailored to your needs,” posted a picture of Crockett with the caption: “We were honored to provide transportation services for Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett during her visit to Chicago.” Crockett is pictured smiling and dressed casually in a red sweater.

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Surprise! Half of Communist Zohran Mamdani’s Campaign Donations Come from Outside New York City

Zohran Mamdani, the Democrat Socialist frontrunner in New York City’s mayoral race, has built his campaign around promises of rent freezes, free bus service, and a city-run grocery system. 

But while his platform is marketed as a local, working-class agenda, new filings reveal that a majority of his campaign money is coming from far beyond the five boroughs.

According to the latest campaign-finance records, Mamdani raised about $1.05 million in just five weeks.

Of that total, more than $532,000—or 53%—came from donors outside New York City. 

This means nearly half of the funding fueling his campaign is coming from individuals who will never vote in the mayoral election.

That figure is unprecedented in a city where campaigns are traditionally funded by residents directly affected by local policies. 

In fact, an analysis by City Limits found that Mamdani has taken in more out-of-state contributions than his two main rivals combined. 

His donor base stretches nationwide, pulling in checks from activists and progressive organizations across the country who see Mamdani as a national figure rather than a local candidate.

For Mamdani’s supporters, the outside contributions prove the strength of his grassroots network. 

His campaign points out that the average donation size remains relatively small, suggesting he has tapped into the same progressive donor pipeline that powered Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. 

They argue this fundraising model frees him from dependence on Wall Street or real estate donors that dominate city politics.

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Tim Walz Donor and Former Minneapolis Chamber CEO INDICTED on Five Counts of Bank and Wire Fraud — Accused of Embezzling $200K and Stealing $30K Reward Money for Unsolved Child Murder Cases

Former Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jonathan Weinhagen, a frequent donor to Democrat Governor Tim Walz, has been indicted on five federal counts of bank and wire fraud for allegedly embezzling more than $200,000 from the chamber and stealing $30,000 meant to help solve child murder cases.

According to federal prosecutors, Weinhagen carried out a six-year scheme between December 2019 and June 2024, using fake companies, fraudulent contracts, and even a phony obituary to cover his tracks.

According to FOX 9, Weinhagen ran an elaborate fraud operation from December 2019 through June 2024, when he abruptly left his position at the Chamber. Prosecutors allege that Weinhagen created a fake consulting company called Synergy Partners and used an alias, James Sullivan, to funnel money to himself.

He also allegedly:

  • Opened a $125,000 line of credit in the chamber’s name and funneled the money into his fake company.
  • Faked the death of his alias, publishing an obituary for “James Sullivan” when the chamber began asking questions.
  • Diverted $30,000 in reward money that had been donated to Crime Stoppers of Minnesota to help solve the shooting deaths of three children in 2021 — crimes that remain unsolved.
  • Tried to fraudulently obtain a $54,661 loan from SoFi Bank by claiming he worked for a restaurant group and earned $425,000 annually — both lies.

Federal prosecutors say the total embezzled amount exceeds $200,000.

Weinhagen also stole a total of $30,000 in reward money that had been earmarked to help find suspects.

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Anti-Capitalism Progs Are Raking in the Money on the Dem Side

While I can’t speak to what goes on in other countries, I do know that there are a lot of people in the United States who hate capitalism yet somehow seem to be swimming in money. Most of Academia fits that description. Heck, a good portion of the kajillionaires in the entertainment industry kvetch about capitalism while taking quick trips to the French Riviera after they’ve had a bad weekend. 

As we are all painfully aware, the Democrats are finally openly embracing the socialism that they’ve had incubating in their dark little hearts for a long time. The ascendant progressive Left is decidedly anti-capitalism, loudly railing against the evil rich whenever they can. They’re also killing it when it comes to the money that’s flowing into the Democratic Party these days. 

We’ve read a lot lately about fundraising struggles among the Dems, but they’re not all struggling. This is from Rick:

“The Democratic National Committee has raised $99 million so far this year, not even close to the hundreds of millions of dollars it has been accustomed to raising in recent years,” writes The Free Press’s Gabe Kaminsky. 

It’s not just the DNC that’s being shunned. Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, the second-ranking Democrat in government, raised just $134,000 during the same reporting period.

Meanwhile, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) raised $4.4 million between July 1 and Sept. 30. According to the most recent Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings, her cash on hand now totals $11.8 million. That cash is going to come in handy when she challenges Schumer for his Senate seat in 2026.

That would be the same Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who’s been out traipsing about the country with commie Bernie Sanders on the “Fight Oligarchy” tour. It would appear that Squeaky won. 

Rick reports that other progs are raking it in as well, including Jasmine “F-Bomb” Crockett, the country day academy-educated chick who’s totally down with the struggle. The radical “We Hate the Rich” kids over in Dem Land seem to know an awful lot of rich people. AOC didn’t amass an almost $12 million war chest by getting three-dollar donations from constituents in her Congressional district.

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Democratic National Committee STILL Struggling to Pay Off Kamala Harris Campaign Debt Nearly a Year Later

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is still struggling to repay Kamala Harris’s campaign debt almost a year after the 2024 election.

The amazing thing about this, is that it’s a reminder that Harris had a campaign war chest of more than a billion dollars, a massive sum for a political campaign, and yet she still lost and she still incurred millions of dollars in campaign debt.

It really is a testament to what an absolutely awful candidate she was and still is. If she runs again in 2028, she will probably be torpedoed by Democrat voters during the primary.

The New York Post has the story on her 2024 campaign debt:

DNC pays off $1.6M in debt for Kamala Harris’ failed campaign as Dems face tight race in New Jersey

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is still paying off shortfalls incurred by former Vice President Kamala Harris’ failed 2024 election campaign — with at least $1.6 million paid out in September alone, according to the latest federal filings.

The Harris campaign shelled out $1.49 million alone for media production and consulting, $106,312 for data services and $21,762 to rent space at a Grand Rapids, Mich. community center for an October 2024 event alongside billionaire investor Mark Cuban touting the Democratic nominee as the “pro-business candidate.”

Last month’s payouts push the total debt covered since Election Day to more than $20 million, according to Axios, which first reported on the Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings.

Former President Barack Obama’s successful 2012 campaign incurred a similar level of debt that the DNC three years to fully pay off, with former chairwoman Donna Brazile claiming the 44th commander-in-chief’s “neglect had left the party in significant debt.”

Harris made a “handshake deal” with the national party after Donald Trump defeated her this past November, under which the DNC agreed to cover $20.5 million in outstanding campaign bills, The New York Times reported in August.

It’s amazing that Harris was able to burn through so much cash in such a short period of time. It does not speak well of her, either.

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