Bombshell: Jocelyn Benson lets Whitmer Launder Millions in Excess Campaign Contributions
LANSING, MI – Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson today teamed with her personal friend, Governor Gretchen Whitmer to approve the laundering of millions of dollars in campaign contributions above the legal limit into partisan campaign accounts that could benefit re-election efforts by both officials.
Whitmer raised millions of dollars in excess of the state’s campaign finance laws and limits. The Democrat misleadingly claimed she was raising money to fight a recall campaign, but no recall campaign was ever undertaken against her.
The Michigan Freedom Fund in July filed a formal campaign finance complaint against Gretchen Whitmer’s campaign committee for the brazenly illegal fundraising scheme.
Benson’s ruling today will allow Whitmer to “disgorge” the excess campaign contributions into political party campaign coffers used to benefit both Whitmer and Benson’s re-election campaigns, instead of forcing the Governor to return the money to donors who exceeded state limits.
“Gretchen Whitmer made the biggest illegal campaign cash grab in Michigan history and Jocelyn Benson is laundering it for her so the millions in donations over the limit can be used for both of their re-election campaigns next year,” said Tori Sachs, executive director of the Michigan Freedom Fund. “The Freedom Fund filed its campaign finance complaint because the law applies to everyone – even Gretchen Whitmer.
“Today’s ruling by the Democratic Secretary of State is about winning her own election – not upholding the rule of law. Benson is encouraging partisans to file recalls in order to game the system and raise unlimited campaign funds.”
Benson’s ruling came just before Christmas, in an attempt to bury the story days after it was legally due.
