Public records show Vukmir improperly solicited excessive contributions from Uihlein and illegally coordinated
End Citizens United (ECU) today filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Committee (FEC) against Wisconsin Senate candidate Leah Vukmir and Americans PAC and Restoration PAC, two Super PACs controlled by Dick Uihlein, for improperly soliciting excessive contributions and illegally coordinating, in violation of the Federal Elections Campaign Act of 1971 and FEC regulations.
Following Vukmir’s primary win, she publicly discussed plans to reach out to Uihlein for support and, following a GOP party event, assured stakeholders that she received support from Uihlein, “There was a unity dinner recently and we [Vukmir and Uihlein] are looking forward to working together” – public remarks that leave little doubt that Vukmir held a private conversation with Uihlein on support for her campaign. Weeks later, Uihlein donated a combined $3 million to Americans PAC and Restoration PAC, two Super PACs which within days started running over $700,000 in negative ads against Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Vukmir’s opponent. Both Americans PAC and Restoration PAC are essentially exclusively funded and controlled by Dick Uihlein.
The Violation:
Vukmir and her campaign appear to have violated the Act and Commission regulations in two separate ways: (1) they improperly solicited contributions well in excess of the statutorily imposed limits; and (2) they improperly coordinated public communications with Super PACs controlled by Uihlein.
“Leah Vukmir is skirting the rules and Dick Uihlein is more than happy to play along to put another politician in his pocket,” said Tiffany Muller, president of End Citizens United. “Vukmir’s public remarks stunningly reveal that she coordinated with Uihlein behind closed doors. We aren’t surprised given her absolute horrific record on campaign finance, but Wisconsin deserves better than a politician who puts her own political ambitions ahead of the law, and is willing to be bought off by special interests.”
Click here to read the FEC complaint.
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