The filing also had other inconsistencies, including several vendors listed as doing business in Washington not appearing in a public database maintained by the District of Columbia government.
In a new filing with the FEC on Monday, Americans for Progressive Action USA reported that it returned more than $4.8 million in donations it said it received from three donors with Texas addresses. In memo lines explaining why the donations were being returned, three reasons were listed: “refund due to POLITICO”, “refund” and “refund after Montellaro” — the last name of a POLITICO reporter.
The new filing made no mention of the extensive advertising campaign it previously reported.
Americans for Progressive Action USA did not immediately return a request for comment sent on Monday night to an email address listed on the FEC form. Monday’s document was signed by an “Evan Jones,” who dated his signature two days ahead to match Wednesday’s filing deadline.
Additionally, two email addresses provided as a point of contact during the initial reporting process have since been shut off, with emails to those addresses bouncing back as undeliverable. POLITICO was unable to definitively identify and contact the donors for the organization, and an employer listed for one of the donors said they had no record of any such individual.
The super PAC did not return multiple requests for comment on the original investigation.
The group’s report says it has $1,000 remaining in its bank account.
Separately, the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust, a conservative ethics watchdog, said it filed a complaint with the FEC about Americans for Progressive Action USA.
FACT’s complaint cites POLITICO’s reporting on the organization; POLITICO did not participate in the drafting or filing of the complaint.
“Clearly here are highly suspicious activities taking place, and the FEC must do a full review of this super PAC,” Kendra Arnold, executive director of FACT, said in a statement.
Source: politico.com
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