US Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) & the FEC

[Guest Paul J. Berg]

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From The Willamette Weekly (Portland, Oregon) - July 16, 2007

 

Some of US Senator Gordon Smith's campaign contributors are so eager to

hand him cash that the campaign is finding itself on the receiving end

of questions from the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

 

The FEC last month sent "Friends of Gordon Smith", the official campaign

for the Republican's reelection in 2008, a letter telling the campaign

about a "preliminary review" of its first-quarter disclosure reports.

 

"Schedule A of your report discloses one or more contributions that

appear to exceed the limits set forth in the Act. You should examine all

of your contributions to check for additional excessive contributions.

The Committee's procedures for processing contributions should also be

reviewed."

 

George Smaragdis of the FEC's press office said that the FEC is "just

asking for clarification on these contributions." No penalties are being

issued to Smith or his campaign.

 

Attached to Smith's FEC letter is a two-page list of individual,

political committee and corporate contributions to the campaign that

appear to be greater than what's allowed. Donors can give a maximum of

$2,300 for the primary and $2,300 for the general election.

 

Smith spokesman RC Hammond says some of the people who'd contributed to

Smith's campaign were in fact over the limit. But Hammond says the

campaign caught the over-the-limit donations well before the FEC issued

its letter and either refunded or clarified the contributions.

 

Still, the FEC expects an answer to its inquiry from Smith's campaign by

July 23.

[Guest Curt]

"Paul J. Berg" <pjberg@webtv.net> wrote in message

news:14011-469CE3CF-997@storefull-

>

> George Smaragdis of the FEC's press office said that the FEC is "just

> asking for clarification on these contributions." No penalties are being

> issued to Smith or his campaign.

 

Smaragdis?

 

Doesn't he sound like a brother in law of Emily Boyles' campaign whore?

 

Curt

[Guest Paul J. Berg]

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<http://herndon1.sdrdc.com/cgi-bin/cancomsrs/?_08+S6OR00094>

 

 

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[Guest hal lillywhite]

Curt wrote:

> > George Smaragdis of the FEC's press office said that the FEC is "just

> > asking for clarification on these contributions." No penalties are being

> > issued to Smith or his campaign.

> Smaragdis?

> Doesn't he sound like a brother in law of Emily Boyles' campaign whore?

 

Well, let's not try to take name similarities too far. So far there

seems to be no evidence that Smith's campaign did anything wrong. The

campaign doesn't write the checks and claims to have noticed those

over the limit and taken appropriate action.

 

Let's see what develops out of this. Let the FEC finish its work

before we rush to judgment. If the campaign was complicit in illegal

action, they should be punished. However if the campaign did nothing

wrong there should be no punishment.