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Common Cause Asks DoJ To Investigate Kobach
kris-kobash-common-cause-investigation

Common Cause has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and asked the federal Department of Justice (DoJ) to examine the fundraising practices of Kris Kobach, the former Kansas secretary of state now running for U.S. Senate.

Via the complaint, Common Cause seeks an investigation of Kobach, Kobach for Senate, and We Build The Wall, Inc. The filing alleges violations of federal election law which prohibits corporate contributions to federal campaigns, spending “soft money” in connection with an election, and the lack of a “paid for by” disclaimer on direct mail.

The nonprofit acknowledged in its DoJ request that the FEC has civil jurisdiction that the DoJ can prosecute “knowing and willful” violations of federal campaign finance laws.

The guts of the complaint is a report in The Daily Beast that Kobach “sent a fundraising appeal to an email list maintained by We Build The Wall, a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization of which Kobach is on the advisory board and serves as general counsel. The email includes links back to the Kobach for Senate website and fundraising link.

The complaint seeks three causes of action: that a contribution was thus made to the campaign, that “soft money” was used in connection with the email, and the lack of a “paid for by” acknowledgement.

Here’s a link to the complaint