LANSING, MICH. – The Michigan Freedom Fund today called on Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to quit stalling and to force Governor Gretchen Whitmer to return – not launder back to herself and other Michigan Democrats – millions of dollars in illegal campaign contributions made in violation of the state’s campaign finance laws and limits.
Whitmer campaign lawyer Chris Trebilock today told the state Board of Canvassers that it is preparing to “disperse” the funds but did not promise to return them to donors who made campaign contributions above the state’s legal limit.
“Governor Whitmer should immediately return the excessive contributions to the donors, not launder back to herself and other Michigan Democrats the millions of dollars in illegal campaign contributions,” said Tori Sachs, executive director of the Michigan Freedom Fund. “Whitmer is trying to execute the largest money grab ever seen in Michigan to ignore contribution limits. If Benson and Nessel allow this money to be funneled to an account that benefits all of them, it won’t just be the largest money grab but also the largest and most obvious laundering of campaign cash in Michigan history.”
Both Benson and staff for Attorney General Dana Nessel have gone on record suggesting Whitmer will have to return the cash – but have left open the possibility that she could donate the illegal campaign funds to the Michigan Democratic Party – where it would be used to help the re-election campaigns of Whitmer, Benson and Nessel.
The Freedom Fund in July filed a formal campaign finance complaint against the Whitmer campaign for accepting $3.4 million in contributions above the legal limit from 154 donors. State law limits individual contributions to $7,150. Whitmer subsequently reported raising even more illegal campaign cash.
The Michigan Freedom Fund is still waiting on a final decision on that complaint from Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.
The Michigan Freedom Fund works to advance conservative ideas, hold our government accountable to taxpayers, and protect Freedom, opportunity, and workers’ Constitutional rights. For more information, please visit MichiganFreedomFund.com.
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