Press Releases

End Citizens United Files FEC Complaint Against Karoline Leavitt for Taking Illegal Excessive Contributions

Nov 04, 2022

End Citizens United today filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) against Karoline Leavitt, candidate for New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District. The complaint states that Leavitt’s campaign reported $150,000 in contributions that exceed campaign finance limits. The campaign has not refunded any of these contributions.

“Karoline Leavitt continues to prove she’ll do whatever it takes to win this race, even if it means breaking the law,” said End Citizens United President Tiffany Muller. “Under no circumstance is it plausible for Leavitt to claim that $150,000 in illegal contributions is a clerical error or a simple oversight. This was a calculated move to head into the final months of the election with more money. It’s corruption plain and simple. The FEC should immediately investigate this corrupt scheme and hold her accountable.”

The violation:

  • Between July 19, 2021 and August 24, 2022, disclosure reports show that Leavitt’s campaign committee received nearly $25,000 in contributions from individuals that exceed the $5,800 combined limits for the 2022 primary and general elections.
    Contributor Contributions Time Period Amount Excessive
    Williams Lyons $11,635 9/29/21 – 8/16/22 $5,835
    Anthony Annino $8,700 12/22/21 – 4/30/22 $2,900
    Lawrence Cunningham $8,500 7/19/21 – 11/16/21 $2,700
    Bruce Rosenthal $5,900 3/31/22 – 6/30/22 $100
    Harold Morse $10,000 12/31/21 – 1/1/22 $4,200
    Michael George $8,300 9/15/21 – 1/1/22 $2,500
    Joseph “M.”/Joseph Pizza $10,700 2/18/22 – 3/31/22 $4,900
    Deidre George $6,700 9/15/21 – 3/6/ 22 $900
    Matthew Gomez $6,412 10/23/21 – 3/6/22 $612
    Chester Homer $6,000 10/23/21 – 12/26/21 $200
        Total $24,847
  • Additionally, following the primary election, Leavitt continued receiving contributions that exceeded the $2,900 contribution limit, and took $129,000 in excessive contributions in total, as detailed below.
    Contributor Contributions Time Period Amount Excessive
    Craig Benson $8,700 9/29/22 – 10/3/22 $5,800
    Lewis Topper $8,700 9/21/22 – 10/3/22 $5,800
    Margaret Topper $8,700 9/21/22 -10/3/22 $5,800
    Stuart Peeke Total: $5,000 9/30/22 -10/13/22 $2,100
    Robert Lauter Total: $7,250   $1,450
    Sheila Kageleiry Total: $6,422

    Post-Primary $1,244

    10/13/22 $622
    Charles Kageleiry $4,556 10/13/22 $1,656
    Robert Reynolds $5,975 10/18/22 $3,075
    Michael Adams Total: $8,666

    Post-Primary: $5,800

    9/30/22 – 10/4/22 $5,800
    James Dao-Daizel $5,800 10/4/22 $2,900
    Edmond English $5,800 9/30/21 – 10/1/22 $2,900
    Neil Markwith $5,800 10/18/22 $2,900
    Andrea Perry $5,000 9/30/22 – 10/4/ 22 $2,100
    CLF $10,000 9/30/22 $5,000
    Joseph Baroni $5,000 9/28/22 $2,100
    Daniel McGuire $5,000 9/21/22 $2,100
    Kevin Casey $5,800 9/30/22 $2,900
    Robert Clegg Jr. $5,800 9/22/222 $2,900
    Charles Saulsbury $5,800 9/30/22 $2,900
    Sharon Stanfill $3,900 9/21/22 – 9/20/22 $1,000
    Robert Kargman $11,600 10/23/22 – 10/28/22 $8,700
    Kenneth Solinsky $11,600 10/24/22 – 10/28/22 $8,700
    Lewis Stahl Total: $17,400

    Post-Primary: $11,600

    10/23/22 – 10/28/22 $11,600
    Leonardo Valentin Total: $11,600

    Post-Primary: $5,800

    10/23/22 – 10/25/22 $5,800
    Israel Berrios $5,000 10/24/22 – 10/28/22 $2,100
    Richard Brooks $5,800 10/25/22 – 10/27/22 $2,900
    Daniel Richards $11,600 10/23/22 – 10/28/22 $8,700
    Warren Colby $3,500 10/24/22 – 10/28/22 $100
    James Cooper Jr $5,000 10/25/22 – 10/27/22 $2,100
    Marc Goldman Total: $4,100

    Post-Primary $3,600

    10/23/22 – 10/28/22 $700
    Shawn Hanlon Total: $8,700

    Post-Primary $2,900

    10/28/22 $2,900
    Barry Kraselsky $3,000 10/25/22 – 10/27/22 $100
    Michael Massey Total: $6,800

    Post-Primary $5,800

    10/23/22 – 10/28/22 $2,900
    John Salizzoni Total: $6,000

    Post-Primary $4,000

    10/23/22 – 10/8/22 $1,100
    Paul Steinwachs $5,800 9/30/22 – 10/28/22 $2,900
    Leonardo Valentin $5,800 11/13/21 – 8/24/22 $5,800
    John Tinios $3,000 10/28/22 $100
        TOTAL $129,003

Click here to read the complaint.

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