According to a New York Post analysis of campaign filings, Liberal comedian Rosie O’Donnell illegally made at least five over-sized campaign donations to separate Democratic federal candidates.
Rosie O’Donnell has continually broken the FEC rules that limit the total one person can donate to an individual candidate.
The rules clearly state that there is a capped limit of $2,700 per candidate, per election. The FEC limit applies separately to primaries, runoffs and general elections.
Rosie O’Donnell responds
In a letter to the New York Post, Rosie said there was “Nothing nefarious” about the payments, adding “I was not choosing to over donate.”
“If 2700 is the cut off candidates should refund the money,” Rosie O’Donnell wrote in the letter “I don’t look to see who I can donate most to, I just donate assuming they do not accept what is over the limit”
Rosie said she uses the online liberal fundraising platform ActBlue to donate often.
“My anxiety is quelled by donating to those opposing Trump and his agenda. Especially at night – when most of these were placed.”
Alabama Sen. Doug Jones received $4,700 from Rosie when he ran against Roy Moore.
Pennsylvania Rep. Conor Lamb received $3,600 for the special general election he won in March. he also received another $1,000 from O’Donnell since announcing a run for a full two-year term in a different congressional district in November of this year.
Conor Lamb’s campaign manager said they will inform O’Donnell of the mistake and inform her the extra $900 can be returned or donated to the Primary.
Rosie O’Donnell used five different New York addresses and four variations of her name when the gave a combined $5,400 in contributions to five candidates that were over the limit.
Adam Schiff received $2,950 from O’Donnell. Illinois congressional candidate Lauren Underwood got $4,200 and congressional candidate Omar Vaid received $3,450 in primary donations.
Adam Schiff’s campaign hasn’t returned any messages to the Post seeking comment regarding the matter, nor did Underwood’s camp. But Omar Vaid’s finance director said their campaign “inadvertently designated” some of the money to the “wrong election” and will amend its filings.
When O’Donnell was asked how much she gave to Vaid, she claimed: “I have no idea.”
O’Donnell said she just assumed that ActBlue: “limits donations to the max allowed.” adding, “I keep donating.”
Rosie also says her brother Tim handles her money.
Rosie O’Donnell donated more than $90,000
Filings show Rosie O’Donnell donated to 50 different federal candidates and committees, amounting to more than $90,000 during the 2017-2018 election cycle.
However, it’s unlikely O’Donnell will be penalized for breaking the FEC rules, but both donors and candidates are legally liable for contributions over the limit. FEC rules say that contributions over the limit can be returned, counted toward different elections or married donors can attribute the money to their spouse.
“Donors are rarely fined for excess contributions and then only if they are hiding the donations from the recipients,” prominent D.C. campaign finance lawyer Jan Witold Baran said. “Campaigns generally are not penalized for isolated contributions over a limit. However, multiple excessive donations may lead to an investigation … Fines could result in such cases.”
The New York Post report also says
O’Donnell has also put up at least $25,100 for city and state candidates since 2000, New York filings show. Last year she gave a maxed-out $4,950 donation to Mayor de Blasio. In 2006 O’Donnell even gave $1,000 to former Westchester County DA and then Republican state attorney general candidate Jeanine Pirro.
“I also maxed out to Cynthia Nixon,” O’Donnell admitted to the New York Post. “And I loathe Jeannine Pirro.”
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Great post, you have pointed out some great points, I too believe this s a very fantastic website.
I thought Rosie was leaving the country. Get her plane ready, for President Trump will be our President for another 4 years!