Christopher J. Ward was one of THE "go-to" guys for managing campaign funds on the Republican side. He served as Treasurer for the NRCC and dozens of other groups and campaigns in recent years. Now it seems he was shuffling the cash around between them illegally - and siphoning off "hundreds of thousands" (at least) in the process. Charles Babington has the story for the Associated Press:
The National Republican Congressional Committee told federal authorities that it overstated the amount of cash it held at the end of 2006 by nearly $1 million. A year later, the committee's annual report to the Federal Election Commission -- which again was handled by the ex-treasurer -- overstated the actual funds on hand by $740,000.Republican officials said the former employee, Chris Ward, apparently "made several hundred thousand dollars in unauthorized transfers of NRCC funds to outside committees whose bank accounts he had access to" over several years. Most, if not all, of the smaller accounts were associated with GOP candidates or groups.
Ward, 39, "also appears to have made subsequent transfers of several hundred thousand dollars in funds from those outside committees to what appear to be his personal and business bank accounts," the NRCC said in a statement, which accompanied a briefing to reporters.
Read the whole article at the link above. I stopped giving to the Republican national groups years ago because I doubted the money was being wisely spent. Heh - called that one right!
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Campaign Contributions, Republican, Scandal
Tags: campaign contributions, Republicans, scandal
Comments (2)
Let's see. The FBI apparent... (Below threshold)1. Posted by bryanD | March 14, 2008 11:34 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Let's see. The FBI apparently never entered the premises of the NRCC and yet the investigation is over (everyone's talking). The NRCC assumed a neglectful, laissez faire attitude toward finances just as campaign laws put tighter restrictions on soft money, appointing a "boy wonder" as "guru". Then comes the shaky political prospects of 2006 for the RNC in the wake of the Abramoff scandals. Scandals of which, methodologically were run IDENTICALLY, being slush funds disguised as political action committees. The Ralph Reed infiltration and embezzlement of church congregants on behalf of the SunCruz mafia is a good example. You can find examples of imbedded money wunderkinds jumping ship prior to the 06 midterms. The Pombo affair comes to mind. The present event is just the "tailings", to use a mining term.
P.S. Ralph is even now being rehabilitated as a news contributor. I want to say, on Fox News, but I'm not sure. He's too pretty for prison anyway.
1. Posted by bryanD | March 14, 2008 11:34 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on March 14, 2008 11:34
2. Posted by bryanD | March 14, 2008 12:28 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I followed my advice re: "Pombo" and noticed it's direct relevance to Ward is only to be had by putting on a diving helmet and lead boots. Because I couldn't remember the treasurer's name. I found this tiny article finally. Backstory: revolving cut-outs willing to take professional risks for sudden wealth, the more established the cut-out, the more nervous the cut-outs get as the dreaded ascendancy in Congress of the DNC nears. Ward was probably young enough to enjoy the day to day and stick it out. Youthful reliance and hope plus $$$.
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/000069.php
2. Posted by bryanD | March 14, 2008 12:28 PM |
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Posted on March 14, 2008 12:28