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Published February 4, 2018 Zombie Campaigns | 1 | Tampa Bay Times

Zombie Campaigns | 1 Zombie Campaigns The campaign is over. The candidate might be dead. But the spending never stops.

By CHRISTOPHER O’DONNELL, ELI MURRAY, CONNIE HUMBURG AND NOAH PRANSKY Times/WTSP Staff Writers

Published online Jan. 31, turned-senator Jim Bunning of Ken- in print Feb. 4. tucky. He paid his daughter $94,800 from campaign money in the four WASHINGTON, D.C. — It’s been years after he left office, only stopping more than a decade since South Flor- when he’d bled his fund dry. ida Rep. was forced out of And over the past 17 months, polit- Congress for sending sexual text mes- ical advisor Dylan Beesley paid his sages to teenage boys. firm more than $100,000 from the But Foley tapped his congressional campaign account of Hawaii Con- campaign fund to dine on the Palm gressman Mark Takai for “consulting Beach social circuit four times in ear- services.” ly 2017, ending with a $450 luncheon It’s hard to imagine what Beesley at the Forum Club of the Palm Beach- advised. Takai was dead that whole es. time. Then there’s baseball-star- In their political afterlife, former

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“GET OUT OF HERE’’: Robin Tallon Jr., a former representative from South Carolina, left Congress in 1993, but is still spending campaign money today. In this screenshot from video, a reporter from Charlotte TV station WCNC tries to interview Tallon. Tallon turned the reporter away and kicked him off his property. Tallon reimbursed himself $31,000 without ever explaining why.

politicians and their staffers are club memberships, a limo trip, cell hoarding unspent campaign dona- phones, parking and new computers, tions for years and using them to fi- the investigation found. Some former nance their lifestyles, advance new lawmakers paid themselves thou- careers and pay family members, sands of dollars without providing an investigation by the Tampa Bay any explanation for where the money Times, 10News WTSP and TEG - went. One spent $940 at Total Wine. NA-owned TV stations found. They weren’t all low-profile polit- Their spending makes a mockery ical figures. Former Rep. , of one of the fundamental principles R-, still has an active presiden- of America’s campaign finance laws: tial campaign account that he used Donations must be spent only on poli- to pay almost $16,170 to his daughter tics, not politicians’ personal lives. through 2017, five years after he last Times/WTSP reporters analyzed sought office. more than 1 million records detail- None of the spending was formally ing the spending of former U.S. law- investigated by the Federal Election makers and federal candidates. They Commission, which is responsible found roughly 100 of these zom - for stopping federal candidates from bie campaigns, still spending even treating their campaigns like person- though their candidate’s political ca- al slush funds. reer had been laid to rest. By law, donations should be spent Of course, history is full of politi- on campaigning and the cost of being cians stretching the definition of le- in office. They can also be refunded to gitimate campaign expenses. But donors or given away to other candi- most of those cases at least involved a dates, political committees or chari- campaign of some sort. ties. By contrast, former Rep. Steven But the law doesn’t stop ex-lawmak- LaTourette, R-, had been out ers and losing candidates from keep- of office for more than three years ing their campaigns running forever, when he spent $4,555 on Ohio State even if they never re-enter politics. football tickets. Former Rep. Jim Twenty of the campaigns identified Turner, D-Texas, rented office space by the Times/WTSP stayed active for from his father’s hardware company more than a decade. Eight kept on for $9,600 and paid his wife almost spending even after the candidate $22,000 to handle paperwork in the they were supposedly working to elect six years after he left office. had died — buying lavish dinners, Other ex-candidates spent left- paying cell phone bills and writing over donations on airline tickets, rent checks.

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individual cases that may end up un- der investigation in the future. “There are personal use prohibi - tions,” Hilland said. “Outside of that, if there are still costs associated with a campaign, utilities or a lease on a building – that can still be paid.” Confronted about their spending, most candidates said they kept their accounts open in case they ran again one day, and they disputed that the money benefitted them personally. Several said they would consid- er shutting their campaigns down. Many didn’t return requests for com- ment. Two fled when questioned about their spending by reporters from the Times/WTSP and TEG- NA-owned partner TV stations around the country. Foley, the former Palm Beach con- gressman, said ethical lines are “in the eye of the beholder,” but added that the FEC doesn’t draw lines or provide guidance. Campaign experts said that while FEC rules are vague, it’s clear that someone out of politics should not have expenses that come with cam- paigning. “It’s hard to imagine how some of this is not illegal,” said Larry Noble, a former FEC attorney and senior director of ethics for the Washing- ton-based Campaign Legal Center. “If you’re not in office and you aren’t running, there aren’t a lot of expendi- tures you should be having.” The iPad and the country club If anyone demonstrates how much former lawmakers can get away with, Six campaign finance experts told it’s Robin Tallon Jr. Times/WTSP reporters that some of The South Carolina Democrat left the zombie campaign spending was a the House of Representatives in Jan- potential election-law violation that uary 1993, just as was should have been investigated by the entering the White House, to set him- FEC. self up as a D.C. lobbyist. “There’s just no legitimate explana- Tallon was hardly an influential tion for that, and it’s just outrageous,” said Noah Bookbinder, executive director of nonpartisan watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. “It’s the kind of abuse that people only perpetrate when they’re sure nobody is watching and they can get away with anything.” Times/WTSP reporters requested interviews with all five FEC commis- sioners. Only two responded. They both declined. FEC spokesman Christian Hilland said the agency cannot comment on

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lawmaker. He was primary sponsor said Adav Noti, a former attorney for of only two bills that became law, ac- the FEC who is now a senior director cording to govtrack.us. One was to at the Campaign Legal Center. designate National Tourism Week. “It’s almost inconceivable that But his decade in Congress left spending is legal,” Noti said. “That’s him with more than $400,000 in his 25 years after he left office.” campaign account. He kept it open, Some of Tallon’s other expenditures then invested the money, turning it are even harder to tie to politics. Be- into $1 million. tween 2007 and 2011, he paid roughly In 2005, Tallon embarked on a $8,200 in “dues” to an organization spending spree that is still ongoing. he identified only as “CCSC.” It included more than $31,000 in There are no major political groups “reimbursements” paid to himself or charitable organizations in South without any explanation, federal re- Carolina with those initials. Despite cords show. Another $20,000 was FEC rules, Tallon’s reports don’t list paid to his son, Robert Tallon III, who an address for the recipient. Tallon was listed as campaign treasurer. does, however, live in a 4,400-square- Tallon’s campaign bought a $4,000 foot home in a development with the computer in 2007, a $2,300 comput- same initials: the Country Club of er in 2014 and a $900 iPad in 2017. South Carolina. Since Tallon was no longer cam- Those payments from Tallon are paigning, some of his spending looks in line with the Florence, S.C. club’s like personal use of campaign funds, $300 monthly membership dues and

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food minimum total. Times/WTSP reporters used the In a phone interview, Tallon de- FEC’s own data to identify rough- fended keeping his campaign account ly 100 zombie campaigns that have open, saying he always considered an- spent more than $20 million since other potential run. The iPad was to 1995. do his campaign’s paperwork and to The Times included campaigns that keep up with its investments — which kept spending more than six months would be the only legal use of the de- after the candidate died. For the oth- vice, since it was bought with cam- er campaigns, the analysis didn’t con- paign money, experts said. sider spending in the first two years Tallon did not return subsequent to give candidates time to get out of calls or respond to a letter ask - leases, cell phone contracts and other ing about his “CCSC” spending. He commitments. kicked a camera crew from WTSP That’s far longer than candidates partner station WCNC off his proper- should need. A 2013 FEC adviso- ty last week. ry opinion said outgoing politicians Still, in the earlier interview, the should wind down campaign expens- 71-year-old conceded that after being es within six months. Former inde- out of office for a quarter of a centu- pendent Sen. Joe Lieberman of Con- ry, it’s probably time to shut the cam- necticut and Rep. Charlie Norwood, paign down. R-Ga., both donated more than 90 “I don’t think the likelihood of (run- percent of their money to charity and ning for office) is very high right now, closed their campaigns within a year and I’m retiring from my consulting of leaving office. work in Washington,” he said in No- Combined, eight zombie campaigns vember. “I need to give that money spent $55,000 renting office space. away at this point.” Twenty-one paid more than $53,000 He filed his latest campaign report in cell phone bills. on Jan. 16. It shows his campaign is Four campaigns each spent more still open. than $1,500 buying new comput- ers, including Foley’s, which bought Bending the rules a $1,600 computer in 2015. Experts The laws on campaign spending are said that would be legal only if the simple if vague. computers were used solely for cam- The money cannot be used for costs paign paperwork. unrelated to campaigning or serving Nearly 40 candidates kept aides or in office. campaign staff on the payroll, includ- Items like clothing, country club ing 12 campaigns that paid a candi- fees and groceries, for example, are date’s family member. prohibited. Campaign workers’ sala- FEC rules allow payments to family ries, office space, cell phones and in- members who do genuine work for a ternet service are allowed, when used campaign as long as they are paid at for campaign purposes. “market rate.” But the rules barely address what is But the payments vary wildly. Bun- permitted once a politician leaves of- ning’s campaign paid his daughter fice. more than $2,100 per month. Rep. It would be easy for the FEC to find Elton Gallegly, R-Calif., paid his campaigns exploiting that loophole. spouse just $300 per month for book- keeping and filing FEC forms. Other spending makes even less sense when out of office. In total, 28 former candidates spent more than $94,000 on travel. Thirty-nine spent $246,000 com- bined hosting or attending events, including the unveiling of a portrait and tickets for their spouses to attend a First Lady’s Luncheon. Fifty-one of the zombie candidates had an extra incentive to hang onto campaign cash: they went into the lobbying industry.

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Campaigns are allowed to give to congressman died in July 2016 — ex- other candidates and PACs, even if cept paying one man. those donations could buy influence That was Beesley, 29, who had been that benefits their clients. the Democrat’s chief strategist since Their campaigns donated almost March 2015. A former legislative as- $4.5 million to political candidates sistant to Congresswoman Tulsi Gab- and causes, the Times/WTSP analy- bard, Beesley also worked as Hawaii sis found. State Director for Hillary Clinton’s Tallon was one of them. His cam- 2016 campaign. paign donated $69,000 to political Two months after Takai’s death, pa- causes — including tens of thousands perwork filed with the FEC identified of the dollars he raised as a Demo- Beesley as the campaign’s treasurer, crat to Republican politicians — and which meant he had control over its paid roughly $750 in dues to the Cap- checkbook. itol Hill Club, a private social club for In the 17 months since Takai’s D.C. Republicans. In 2009 he also death, Beesley paid roughly $5,700 gave $5,000 to a political action com- a month to Lanakila Strategies, his mittee formed by Imperial Tobacco own consulting firm. Group, a client of his lobbying firm. Beesley’s most recent payments, Former Rep. Bud Cramer, D-Ala., reported in January, brought the to- donated almost $340,000 after be- tal paid to Lanakila to more than coming chairman of a lobbying firm. $100,000, or 70 percent of Takai’s Former Rep. Henry Bonilla, R-Texas, posthumous campaign spending. admitted that some of the $60,000 “Wow,” said Rep. Mark Takano, he donated was “absolutely” helpful in D-Calif., one of Takai’s friends in his lobbying career. Congress, when told of Beesley’s “It’s the way it is, whether you have spending. “I don’t know if Mark a political fund or whether you were would really want to see that happen- a private citizen writing checks out of ing with the money he raised to run your own account,” he said. for re-election.” The Times/WTSP, in partner- A dead giveaway ship with Honolulu affiliate KGMB/ If FEC rules are vague about can- KHNL, began pressing Beesley for didates who retire, they say even less answers in early January. about what should happen to cam- Three days later, the Honolulu Star paign funds when the candidate dies. Advertiser reported on Beesley’s pay- Asked about dead candidates’ ments. The Campaign Legal Center spending, FEC officials admitted then filed a complaint with the FEC, their analysts could review a cam- which is pending. paign’s report without ever realizing In a written statement, Beesley said that the candidate is dead. he was paid to be the campaign’s trea- That might explain why they nev- surer. er questioned the spending of former He also released a statement that he congressman Thomas J. said was attributable to a spokesman Manton’s campaign, which paid his for Takai’s family. “Dylan Beesley treasurer a salary for two years after supported Mark’s campaign before Manton died. Mark’s passing and, at our request, Takai’s campaign stopped doing has stayed on as campaign treasur- almost everything after the Hawaii er to help manage the campaigns affairs,” the statement said. “He has worked to help us to focus on the next steps so that we could close the cam- paign down and create a foundation in Mark’s name and use it for good causes here in Hawaii. Payments to him during this period were autho- rized.” Takai’s family did not respond to a letter sent by the Times/WTSP seek- ing comment. The Mark Takai Foundation wasn’t incorporated until Jan. 11, Hawaii state business records show — two

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days after KGMB/KHNL contact- counts within six years or before they ed Beesley about his spending and 16 go into lobbying. months after he became treasurer of And Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., the campaign. filed a bill four times between 2007 Many campaign treasurers are and 2015 that would have let law- paid to file campaign reports with the makers designate a family member FEC. But Takai’s campaign was pay- to take over their campaign accounts ing $500 per month to CFO Compli- once they die. ance, a national group that specializ- Takano’s bill didn’t get a hearing. es in campaign paperwork. Jones’ passed the House three times, Beesley declined multiple requests then died in the Senate. for an interview. Jones said current House Speaker Noble, the former FEC attorney and other lawmakers have and CLC ethics director, said the FEC no interest in campaign finance re- should investigate Beesley’s spending. form. “I’ve not heard of a situation where, “Too many people like the system after the death of the office holder or the way it is,” Jones said in an inter- candidate, that the committee keeps view. on paying people,” Noble said. “He Ryan’s spokeswoman did not pro- can’t keep it going indefinitely while vide a comment. he spends money on himself.” The FEC was created to oversee campaign spending in 1975, after ‘Designed to gridlock’ Richard Nixon’s re-election cam- One easy way to stop former law - paign paid for the burglary of the makers from misspending campaign Democratic National Committee money would be for Congress to set a headquarters in the Watergate office time limit for how long zombie cam- complex. paigns can remain open. But Congress doesn’t fund the agen- But the FEC’s Democratic and Re- cy very well, experts say. After adjust- publican commissioners, who can ing for inflation, its $76 million an- recommend new rules to Congress, nual budget is smaller than it was in almost never agree. In 2016, the com- 2010. Last year, it had just 34 analysts mission deadlocked on one-third of to review more than 26 million finan- enforcement votes. cial transactions. “The FEC was designed to grid- Former candidates are especially lock,” said Meredith McGeehee, exec- likely to escape scrutiny since they do utive director of Issue One, a nonpar- not have political opponents to chal- tisan political reform group. lenge their spending. The FEC almost In Congress, the few attempts never catches questionable spending to address these campaigns have itself. All but eight of the FEC’s 128 stalled. Lawmakers are reluctant to closed investigations last year started put additional restrictions on them- with an outside complaint. selves, said Noti, the former FEC at- FEC analysts are also told to ig- torney. nore suspicious spending unless the Rep. Takano, the California Dem- amount of money or number of trans- ocrat, filed the “Let It Go” act in both actions raises above a secret thresh- 2015 and 2017 requiring outgoing old, which the agency refuses to dis- members to close their campaign ac- close, documents show. “There is really not a lot of incen- tive for this agency to go off and start snooping and investigating current members, much less former mem- bers,” McGehee said. “It does not have a robust investigatory arm. That’s not how the agency was designed.” Nonetheless, zombie campaigns have occasionally come to the agen- cy’s attention. Every time, the agency did nothing, and the campaign carried on. Eight campaigns identified by the Times/WTSP sent the FEC paper- work stating that they were not run-

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ning for office, then continued spend- Campbell as “U.S. Senator for Col- ing for years, FEC documents show. orado.” It said Karen Campbell was Six are still open. providing the campaign “bona fide” In July 2011, former Virginia Rep. services, including preparing its tax Rick Boucher’s treasurer informed forms. the FEC in writing that “the candi- At the time, the Republican was date has no intention of seeking office also paying outside firms to do “tax in future election cycles.” By then, the preparation,” campaign finance re- Democrat was already working for cords show. law firm Sidley Austin. The FEC let the matter drop, and But Boucher, who did not return the checks to his daughter-in-law calls or emails for comment, kept on kept coming for another five years. spending. Since 2013, he has paid Campbell declined requests for an in- $33,000 to staffers for “reimburse- terview. ments” and “contract labor,” and If the law doesn’t change, there will spent nearly $4,900 on cell phone likely be more cases like his. bills, office supplies, services Since 2016, more than 40 House and postage. His campaign account and Senate incumbents have re - is still open. signed or announced they will not In 2010, the FEC wrote to former run in the 2018 midterm election. Colorado Sen. Ben Nighthorse Camp- The soon-to-be ex-politicians are bell warning that the $2,000 per sitting on more than $55 million in month he was paying his daughter- campaign donations. in-law, Karen Allard Campbell, could “possibly constitute personal use of the committee’s campaign funds.” At that point, Campbell had been out of office for five years, and paying her for the past four. His campaign treasurer respond- ed on a letterhead that still touted

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Methodology To identify zombie campaigns, Times/ WTSP reporters used the Federal Elec- tion Commission’s API to download more than 1 million disbursement records, rang- ing from the earliest records in the FEC’s database up to the third quarter of 2017. Then reporters ranked each campaign by the number of expenditures it made after the campaign’s final election cycle. Then reporters hand-reviewed more than 350 campaigns’ spending. Reporters excluded campaigns that had too few expenditures and campaigns pay- ing back old debt. They then categorized more than 10,000 rows of data by type of spending. The entire database is available online at tampabay.com/zombiedata- base. The reporters did not include data with- in two years of a campaign’s last election or the last time a politician held office. This was to give campaigns ample time to pay off debts, get out of leases and end oth- er contracts. They also removed records that did not have a date, and did not tag tax payments, refunds, negative amounts or disgorgements. They categorized pay- ments according to the campaign’s listed disbursement description. The database also includes former pol- iticians who moved onto new careers as lobbyists, employees of lobbying firms or employees of private companies working in lobbying roles. The reporters searched the Biographical Directory of the Congress, Open Secrets’ Revolv- ing Door database and news articles to look for signs that a former candidate had taken work representing special inter- ests, whether or not they formally regis- tered as a lobbyist. Donations from their campaigns are included in the database. About 20 of the 102 zombie campaigns were primarily identified based on this cri- teria. Some data from the FEC API was in- complete, missing fields like dates, amounts, recipient names or descriptions for the disbursements. Whenever possi- ble, reporters corrected inaccurate data based on the original paper filings.

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Published on WTSP.com on June 29, compiling pieces that aired on WTSP-TV and other TEGNA television statio across the country throughout the first six months of the year, starting in February. Zombie Campaigns | 2 | Tampa Bay Times

Zombie Campaigns | 2 Zombie Campaigns: A big DC problem, and a path to get it fixed

00:00 – Zombie Campaigns VIDEO ENTRY: Welcome to our 10 Investigates spe- tinyurl.com/ZombieSpecial cial on Zombie Campaigns; the con- 00:00 – Welcome troversial committees that live on for 01:12 - Zombie Campaigns (2/1/18) years, even after a politician’s career 06:03 - Digital footprint has died. It is a phrase coined by in- 06:55 - Zombie Campaigns vestigative reporter Noah Pransky, (2/2/18) who partnered with The Tampa Bay 11:47 - FEC action Times to expose giant loopholes in 13:19 - Congressional action campaign finance laws. They found 14:56 - Bill filed some disgraced - and even some dead 16:54 - Zombies hit the White - Congressmembers still political- House 19:00 - Next steps ly active, blowing through money on TOTAL RUNTIME: 20:35 things like dinner and drinks, iPads, and football tickets. It’s only been five months since their investigation launched, but it’s already garnered creatures in the Capital….nobody national attention, accolades and ac- seems to be paying attention to the tion. *zombies. FORMER lawmakers whose political careers are dead….yet Washington has noticed too. Our their campaigns have come to life, to ZombieCampaigns.com website and support their *new careers and life- social media videos have gone viral, styles, *after they leave office. prompting formal investigations on congressional spending. Two mem- {Reporter} “Five nights in a Virgin- bers of Congress, from opposite sides ia hotel – that was for a campaign?” of the aisle, got together to file a bill to {Sen. Saxby Chambliss} “Yes it was.” curb the abuse and the Federal Elec- {Reporter} “It was? After you re- tion Commission changed federal tired?” campaign finance rules. Among the 100+ politicians put under the mi- But its not just that former Georgia croscope: former presidential can- Senator keeping his campaign alive didates, as well as members of Presi- long after retirement….we even found dent Trump’s cabinet. former Congressmen still spending… years after they DIED! This cam- “Zombie Campaigns” was the result paign spending loophole is *so large… of a year-long investigation into mil- you can drive a hearse through it. lions of FEC records; this was Noah Pransky’s first story in revealing his {Noah Bookbinder, CREW Exec findings. Dir} “If you can’t sometimes laugh at it, you can’t come to work every day.”

01:12 – Drain the Swamp Noah Bookbinder is a former fed- “Drain the swamp!” they said, fo- eral prosecutor who’s been trying to cusing the nation’s attention on all “drain the swamp” since before it was the money that runs Washington. a campaign slogan! He hasn’t quite But with the attention on the swamp succeeded yet….in fact…he says it

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keeps getting harder. question or two about your campaign account spending, do you have a mo- {Bookbinder} “I’m more worried ment (Paul slams car door shut) Dr. than mad; I’m worried it could get to Paul?” a point we can’t come back from.” These former lawmakers spent Which is why, in his current job hundreds of thousands of dollars at Executive Director for nonprofit on questionable items like tick- watchdog group CREW: ‘Citizens for ets to sporting events…cell phone Responsibility and Ethics in Wash- bills… and what appear to be vaca- ington”…Bookbinder has helped file tions. Former Georgia Senator Sax- lawsuits against politicians who use by Chambliss, is still spending from campaign money as personal slush a campaign account after leaving funds. But even he was surprised at Washington for a lobbying firm: what we found, including a list of a *hundred former Congressmembers, {Reporter} “You retired from Sen- Senators, and presidential candidates ate three years ago. Why do you still still spending campaign money long have a campaign account open?” after giving up the game. {Sen. Saxby Chambliss} “Because there’s money in it.” {Bookbinder} Its really shameful when you see this many people ex- Get this: he’s *far from the worst of- ploiting the system. fender... - Congressman Mark The Federal Election Commis- Foley resigned in shame when he was sion says candidates should *never caught sexting high schoolers. The *personally benefit from campaign Republican has spent the last de- contributions. And after a 6-month cade using leftover campaign cash on wind-down period, retired lawmak- memberships to posh social clubs in ers should close their accounts and West Palm Beach…as well as travel, donate leftover money to charity, or meals, and a personal computer! other established political commit- - Ron Paul hasn’t campaigned tees. Except, they aren’t *required* for anything in more than five years… to retire their *campaigns... So these but has continued to cut tens of thou- politicians can keep their lucrative ac- sands of dollars’ worth of checks to counts open…indefinitely. Our team his daughter to manage his “cam- – in partnership with the Tampa Bay paign” finances… Times – spent a year analyzing more - the granddaddy of them all?... than a *million public campaign fi- is South Carolina Democrat, Robin nance records we downloaded from Tallon...who hasn’t served in Con- the FEC’s webpage. And, we traveled gress in 25 years! He’s spent much of the country to interview reluctant that time *living off his old campaign politicians. Like, former Texas Con- cash: paying for travel, a new iPad, gressman and presidential hopeful and dues to his country club…which Ron Paul: is actually one of the few things the FEC *does* specifically prohibit un- {Reporter} “Wanted to ask you a der any circumstance!

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{Bookbinder} “There’s just no le- {Reporter} Why not just close the gitimate explanation for that and its account down and roll the money into just outrageous…it’s the kind of abuse charity?” that people only perpetrate when {Sen. LeMiuex} “I may, and that’s they’re sure nobody is watching and what I’ve been advised to do…” they can get away with anything.” {Bookbinder} “Both Democrats The more we dug, the more out- and Republicans are committing the rageous the abuse. Case in point: abuses; both Democratic and Repub- former Hawaii Congressman Mark licans should be getting behind doing Takai. His campaign has paid a polit- something about it.” ical operative 100+ thousand dollars to act as treasurer and consultant…. There have been efforts to curb the AFTER Takai left office. What makes abuses in recent years, but you haven’t it so outrageous? Well, Congress - heard about them…because the bills man Takai died from cancer in 2016. never got a single hearing. As for the Meaning the consultant who took political operative spending a dead charge of the money….is paying *him- man’s campaign cash? He says he’s self campaign cash…to consult on a just doing what the family of the for- *dead man’s campaign. And the Fed- mer Congressman wants. The fam- eral Elections Commission, which ily has yet to return our requests for has ONE JOB – oversee campaign comment. Noah Pransky, 10Investi- spending - has done nothing to stop gates. these absurdities.

{Noah Bookbinder, CREW Exec 06:03 – Viral Video Dir} “If the Federal Election Com- In addition to the original report- mission isn’t going to act on this, may- ing, 10 Investigates built Zombie- be the only way to get action on this is Campaigns.com. It’s a one-stop-shop to shame people…and shining a light for you to read our story, dig into our on what’s happening can do that.” online database of former candidates taking advantage of the system, and While we’re at it, let’s shine a light of course, watching our videos. That on the other dead candidates we includes a few extra segments that found spending campaign cash caught fire on social media: a throw- post-mortem….. in Nebraska… back to the 1990s-era Pop-Up Video, Ohio…New York, and New Jersey! and a tribute to the 1970s-era School- All told – the 100-plus campaigns house Rock. we identified as exploiting the sys- tem… are sitting on TENS of millions of dollars in cash…with virtually no 06:26 – SchoolHouse Mock oversight on how they can spend it. It’s such a giant loophole – you can Former Florida Senator George Le- still spend when you’re dead! Miuex: Friends can claim you’re campaign-

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ing to pay for their dinner spread. retired! You might recognize some And when Congress had a chance of them...Mark Foley; Joe Kennedy to fix, it’s a bill they chose to kill. II; Ron Paul….. spending funds on Because one day…..they’ll too have things like fancy dinners…travel… zombie accounts……………..likely and paying family members. And worth a Mil! nobody in Washington seems to no- tice…or care.

06:44 – Zombie Campaigns, Part {Takano} “It is legal! But I don’t II think it should be!” This story starts…with a Disney showtune. In a gay bar…a stone’s Takano’s bill simply said candidates throw from the U.S. Capital. It was had six years after they stop running inspiration for a bill introduced in to close their accounts down…mean- Congress last year: ing their leftover campaign cash would go to charity or another politi- {U.S. Rep Mark Takano, D-Califor- cal committee. That’s 12 times longer nia} “Let it go. At some point, you got- than the FEC says should be neces- ta let it go.” sary!?! But that bill…didn’t even get a hearing. California Congressman Mark Takano is a Democrat who wants to {Reporter} You retired from Senate ‘drain the swamp’ in Washington. three years ago…why do you still have And the openly-gay lawmaker says a campaign account open?? a lightbulb went off one night when No surprise, former Georgia Sen- he was among the showtunes-loving ator Saxby Chambliss, and the own- crowd at JR’s. ers of other zombie campaigns we tracked down all over the country… {Takano} “It’s very difficult to weren’t in the mood to talk. change anything if you’re not in the {Reporter} “You spent thousands of majority…I’m hoping to leverage pop- dollars on things like hotel rooms and ular culture here…” food. How is that campaigning…af- {Reporter} “Whatever it takes.” ter you retired?” {Takano}”Whatever it takes.” { Chambliss} “We don’t have any- thing to discuss.” Thus, the “Let it Go” Act – a bill designed to close a little-known, but While other still-spending candi- much-abused loophole… that allows dates had no comment at all….BE- former lawmakers to keep spending CAUSE THEY WERE DEAD! their campaign cash long after their careers are over; Not on campaign- {Reporter} We found candidates ing, but on subsidizing their life - with campaigns open for years after styles!!! they died, still spending money. {Takano} Ha! Well, that….is…..in- {Takano} “I think it’s a very reason- credible. able thing we’re asking former mem- bers to do.” Somehow…the FEC still didn’t no- tice. We stumbled upon Takano’s cru- sade as we were investigating “zom- {Meredith McGehee, Executive Di- bie campaigns” – lucrative accounts, rector IssueOne} “I often call the FEC belonging to former politicians who the ‘failure to enforce commission.” have long retired, but are still *spend- ing like they’re *not….sometimes, Meredith McGehee is the Executive violating federal laws that prohib- Director at IssueOne, a nonpartisan it personal benefit from campaign DC nonprofit, dedicated to getting funds. Our team, in partnership with the money *out* of politics…so Con- the Tampa Bay Times, combed fed- gress can go back to working for the eral election records to identify more people. She says the abuses run ram- than *one *hundred campaigns with pant because of both the lack of en- questionable spending *years after forcement…and efforts by House and the lawmaker stopped campaigning Senate leadership to kill efforts to re- – sometimes for *decades after they form campaign finance laws.

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spending campaign cash? {McGehee} “Really, what it’s going to take is some brave people on the {Takano} “We have enough of a Hill to step forward and be willing swamp…we should drain as much of to offend their leadership and spend the swamp as we can, and I regard their political capital…and say, this this as very modest…effort. Let your system needs to change for the bet- money go to a higher purpose for ter.” what you built your career on.”

Meet ‘brave person on the Hill,’ Senator Saxby Chambliss, whom Walter Jones – a longtime Republi- we caught up with after he ignored can Congressman from North Caro- numerous requests for an inter - lina. view…. Later sent a short statement that said he complies with all feder- {U.S. Rep Walter Jones, R-North al laws and discloses all of his cam- Carolina} “If any member of Congress paign expenditures…. Which *may is not willing to let sunshine in, then be true… but critics say, when federal the Democracy is threatened.” law allows a retired lawmaker to ex- pense five nights in a ritzy resort… it Jones tells us, he’ll re-file a bill that may be time to re-assess our laws. In could curb controversial spending Washington, Noah Pransky, 10 In- *after* a member dies…by allowing vestigates. him or her to designate how leftover campaign funds should be disbursed in case of death. He may also propose 11:47 – FEC action mandating that all leftover cash be This investigation didn’t just involve sent to other campaigns or *charities collaborating with the Tampa Bay within *ONE YEAR of a member’s Times; 10 Investigates spent nearly a death. The last time he filed his bill… year collaborating with dozens of sta- it was killed by his fellow Republicans tions across the country within the in the Senate. TEGA television network. The series also inspired a tremendous amount of {Jones} “Well Noah, its just that no additional reporting on Zombie Cam- one seems to care about reform….I’ve paigns, from Hawaii to San Francisco made the comment back in my dis- to Maine. National outlets followed trict that the only way we’re going to as well, including “Zombie” reports get reform is to have a scandal.” from the Huffington Post, News- day, and Bloomberg. It was the talk A scandal, like….dead candidates of Twitter once our stories went live,

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collecting thousands of clicks and first time. In fact, they credited our retweets from around the country; stories for the rare administrative ac- an “ask me anything” session with our tion; but the weakened enforcement investigative team reached the No. 1 has been just one part of the problem. overall spot on Reddit; and a number The other issue stems from vague of watchdog groups sounded alarms, laws with giant loopholes. Former pressing the Federal Election Com- Congressmembers reached Noah, mission to change its rules. This is calling on their old colleagues in the former FEC chair Ann Ravel: House and Senate to step up for a fix.

“The law absolutely has to change. {Fmr US Rep } “I don’t I mean, the fact that a person has think there’s anyone in their right received campaigns funds that are mind that thinks dead candidates meant for certain things and it pays should be spending money for some- off individuals is absolutely not what one to consult on their campaign. was intended by the law.” They’re dead!

And change was not far away. Former Congressman Trey Radel is When our Zombie Campaign special now the host of a conservative radio returns, we’ll tell you how both the show out of Southwest Florida. And FEC and members of Congress start- he says his phones lit up after reading ed to change their ways. the headlines from our story.

And don’t forget you can see more {Radel} “These examples may not of our extensive reporting with all the technically violate the letter of the documents we’ve gathered on Zom- law; undoubtedly they violate the bieCampaigns.com. Keep it here, spirit of the law - not only within the we’ll be right back. little bubble of Washington D.C., but also what donors across the United States want from their members of 13:19 – Congressional action Congress.” Welcome back. One of the most significant changes in the last five Radel is no stranger to controver- months since 10 Investigates and the sy himself; he resigned in 2014 after Tampa Bay Times broke the Zombie he was caught in D.C. with cocaine. Campaigns story has come from the Yet he still managed to comply with FEC. In April, the agency responded the Federal Election Commission’s to our reporting and announced they guidelines that say you should wind would start reviewing former law- campaign spending down after 6 makers’ campaign spending for the months. That guideline though, is

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not a requirement, which has allowed or charitable accounts, as the Federal some well-funded lawmakers to con- Election Commission suggests. tinue to personally profit from dona- tions years after leaving D.C. The new bill proposes to: -Require former Congressmem- {Radel} “It’s nothing short of in - bers to close down their campaign sane.” accounts within two years of leaving office; -Prohibit payments to family mem- 14:56 – Bill filed bers; The message was heard. In April, -And ban former Congressmem- Republican and Dem- bers from lobbying until they’ve ocrat filed a bipartisan closed down their old accounts; a bill based on 10 Investigatives’ report- small step toward restoring public ing. They came to our studio to give trust, according to Castor and Bil- us that news first. iarkis. But also, a tough sell to their counterparts in Congress. {Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa} “People don’t expect you to be able {Reporter} “You’re biting off a lot to use your campaign account to pay here.” club fees (or) cell phone bills, espe- {Bilirakis} “It is an ambitious effort. cially years and years after you leave But we’re away from our families... office.” we’ve got to do good things up there; otherwise its not worth it.” Just maybe, the “Honest Elections and Campaign, No Gain” Act can That bill is now making its way stop that. through the House Administration Committee. But it’s got an uphill {Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Palm Har- battle, thanks to some Congress- bor} “This needs to be done. And the members like Lakeland’s Dennis public really appreciates this.” Ross. The prominent Republican isn’t on the House Administration Our investigation revealed some Committee, but he’s what we call a Congressmembers spending leftover “zombie-in-training.” When the four- campaign funds 25 years after leav- term Congressman unexpectedly an- ing office! nounced his retirement two months {NATS} “get outta here!” ago, Noah asked if he planned on Others, paying family members: winding down his campaign account {NATS} “Dr Paul?” after he left office. The response: a ...instead, of closing down accounts straightforward “No.” Ross is one of when they’re done campaigning, and 64 Congressmembers who won’t run rolling the money into other political for reelection in the fall, and togeth-

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er they have almost $100,000,000 in Price, the now-former Health and banked donations with little restric- Human Services Secretary, who had tion on how they can spend it. to resign in September after he was caught spending hundreds of thou- 16:54 – Zombies in the White sands of tax dollars on charter flights. House He was spending his old congres- That doesn’t include the five mil- sional campaign funds too, and still lion in campaign dollars still held by hasn’t stopped. Interior Secretary current and former members of Pres- Rice has blown through more than ident Trump’s cabinet. Many of them 40 grand in campaign funds since he have also chosen to keep their old left Congress on things like meals and campaign account open. And recent- travel. That’s on top of the taxpay- ly, Noah took to Facebook to explain er-funded travel spending he’s been what all the president’s men are still under fire for. doing with that money. These findings were first reported Our zombie campaign story has by nonprofit watchdog MapLight. made it all the way to the White All told, these seven men spent hun- House. Kind of. See, while we’ve been dreds of thousands of campaign dol- exposing the former Congressmem- lars since they left Congress on items bers spending old campaign funds that included cell phone bills, stor- in their new careers as lobbyists or age units, and airfare. We didn’t find consultants, we also now learn that any evidence of charitable donations there are seven former politicians from any of those accounts. And with still spending after taking new jobs in nearly six million more campaign President Trump’s Cabinet! bucks still sitting in the bank, don’t expect their spending to stop anytime So who are they? Well, you don’t soon. By comparison, during Pres- have the a brain surgeon to figure ident Obama’s eight-year tenure in this. In fact, one of them is brain the White House, three members of surgeon Ben Carson. The secretary his cabinet over that time spent cam- of HUD is still spending his old do- paign money from old congressional nations, more than two years after funds more than a year after they left quitting his presidential campaign. the house. This truly is a loophole Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s both parties take advantage of. Noah been spending thousands to keep his Pransky, 10 Investigates. campaign officially up and running since leaving Congress. That includes As we move into the summer, 10 In- a $1200 meal last year at the swanky vestigates will continue to track prog- Capitol Hill Club. Then there’s Tom ress on reform, including the FEC’s

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first-ever scrutiny on retired lawmak- ers’ spending, their investigations into possible illegal spending, includ- ing the case they opened against the Hawaii consultant exposed in our report, and the possible new restric- tions they’ll consider on how cam- paign funds can be spent.

They recently received dozens of comments from the public about the loopholes, including a letter from Congresswoman Castor. It read, in part, “I believe the commission should clarify the permissible and im- permissible uses of campaign funds after a person is no longer running for office. Doing so would prevent some of the most problematic spending and provide needed clarity to former of- fice holders.”

Congress will need to close loop- holes in the law too. The “Honest Elections and Campaign, No Gain Act” will have to get through a pair of committees before it could become law. 10 Investigates has been speak- ing to members of the first committee about the bill; Congressman Bilirakis and Congresswoman Castor have also been working with a committee chairman to get the bill a hearing. You can read about the developments and see all the reporting on Zombie- Campaigns.com. In addition to our original investigation, you can see details on how more than a hundred former lawmakers have taken advan- tage of the campaign finance system. Thanks for joining us tonight for our 10 Investigates special - you can catch more on Zombie Campaigns and other investigations weekdays on 10 News. Have a good night.

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Zombie Campaigns | 3

The following two videos were published on wtsp.com and tampabay.com and on the news organizations’ social media accounts, where they were viewed hundreds of thousands of times. Schoolhouse Mock

Popup video with former Senator Saxby Chambliss

Published January 31, 2018

| 1 | Read the pdf or click here to read online

Published February 6, 2018 Zombie Campaigns | 4 | Tampa Bay Times

Zombie Campaigns | 4 Efforts target ‘Zombie’ spending Stricter rules sought on ex-lawmakers’ unused campaign cash.

By CHRISTOPHER O’DONNELL and NOAH PRANSKY Times/WTSP Staff Writers

Published online Feb. 5 She said there should be a time lim- and in print Feb. 6. it on how long campaigns are allowed to remain open, and lawmakers A Washington D.C. watchdog should not be allowed to pay family group and a Tampa congresswoman members after they leave office. are pushing to close a loophole that U.S. Rep. , D-St. Pe- has allowed ex-politicians to keep tersburg, said he would support a bill spending campaign donations years placing more restrictions on spend- after leaving office. ing once out of office. The Campaign Legal Center filed “I think it’s remarkable some would a petition with the Federal Elections have campaign funds open that long Commission Monday calling for and some even after individuals are stricter rules on how former lawmak- deceased,” he said. “It strikes me as ers spend leftover campaign money. wrong and we need to fix it.” The CLC cited an investigation by Other members of Florida’s con- the Tampa Bay Times/10News WTSP gressional delegation did not return and TEGNA-owned TV stations calls and emails seeking comment. that uncovered former politicians The petition calls on the FEC to and their staffers hoarding unspent specify what costs former lawmakers campaign donations for years and can expense with campaign dona- using them to finance their lifestyles, tions. It also asks the agency to place a advance new careers and pay fami- time limit on how long campaign ac- ly members. Some campaigns con- counts can remain open. tinued spending after the lawmaker The current law allows ex-lawmak- died. ers and losing candidates to keep The reporting showed “the appear- their campaigns running forever, ance or reality of dozens of former even if they never re-enter politics. officeholders using their campaign It states that donations should be accounts as slush funds, or to contin- spent on campaigning and the cost ue paying for expenses that may have of being in office. They can also be been permissible during their time in refunded to donors or given away to office but ceased to be so after they other candidates, political commit- left office,” the petition says. tees or charities. It asks the FEC to clarify that such But the Times/WTSP investigation, spending is not allowed. called “Zombie Campaigns,” identi- Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Kathy Cas- fied more than 100 campaigns that tor, D-Tampa, told the Times/WTSP carried on spending at least two years that she is drafting a bill to “rein this after their candidate left office. In 20 in.” cases, the campaigns stayed open for “If they’re dead, they’re a lobbyist, more than a decade. they’ve been out of the Congress for The investigation found retired many years they should not be able lawmakers buying airline tickets, to tap their campaign funds for their club memberships, a limo trip, park- personal expenses or their lobbying ing and new computers, among other expenses,” Castor said. items. It also found spending on cam-

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paign expenses like cell phones, utili- ties, office rent and internet services, even though the candidate was no longer campaigning. “There’s not just one or two former Congress members out there break- ing the law,” said Adav Noti, a former attorney for the FEC who is now a senior director at the Campaign Le- gal Center. “There seems to be wide- spread sense that the rules do not cov- er activity once the politicians are out of office.” FEC officials declined to comment on the petition. Under agency rules, commissioners will now decide whether to conduct a hearing on the CLC’s petition, which would include allowing the public and other parties time to comment. It could also make a recommenda- tion to Congress to pass legislation to tackle the issue.

Contact Christopher O’Donnell at [email protected] or (813) 226-3446. Follow @codonnell_ Times.

| 3 | Read the pdf or click here to read online

Published April 6, 2018 Zombie Campaigns | 5 | Tampa Bay Times

Zombie Campaigns | 5 Political ‘zombies’ targeted A bipartisan bill seeks to curtail personal use of donations from shuttered campaigns.

By CHRISTOPHER O’DONNELL and NOAH PRANSKY Times Staff Writers

Published online April 5 ers who went into lobbying. Under and in print April 6. the new bill, they wold be required to close their campaign accounts before ST. PETERSBURG — Two local starting in that industry. members are calling on Congress to But the bill does not address cam- close a loophole that allows ex-law- paigns that continue spending even makers to hoard unspent campaign after the lawmaker dies. The inves- donations for years after they leave tigation identified eight such cam- office. paigns where staffers authorized Rep. Gus Bilirakis, the Palm Har- spending on lavish dinners, cell bor Republican, and Rep. Kathy phone bills and rent checks. Castor, the Tampa Democrat, are Bilirakis said Castor and he will ad- co-sponsoring the “Honest Elec- vocate support for the bill with their tions and Campaign, No Gain Act.” respective parties. But he expects The bipartisan bill requires outgoing some opposition. lawmakers to close their campaign “You’re going to get some resis- accounts within two years and also tance,” Bilirakis said. “Probably some bans payments to family members former members of Congress will lob- once they leave office. by against this bill.” The veteran lawmakers said the bill Under the proposed law, the two- is in direct response to a Tampa Bay year period to wind down a campaign Times / 10News WTSP investigation would begin on the day after the that turned up about 100 so-called deadline to qualify for the next elec- zombie campaigns, kept open by for- tion. mer politicians to finance their life- As with current law, unspent cam- styles, advance new careers and pay paign donations could be given to family members. charity, donated to local, state or na- “Thanks to your reporting we un- tional political parties or refunded to derstand the extent of some of the the original donor. abuses,” Castor said. “A member But it would prohibit candidates shouldn’t be able to have these ac- from transferring the money into counts live on for decades and use their own political action commit- those funds for personal use – that’s tees, which is allowed under current wrong.” regulations. The Times/WTSP investigation The bill would only apply to mem- found former lawmakers and former bers of the U.S. House and Senate candidates spending leftover dona- and not to presidential candidates. tions on airline tickets, club member- The Times/WTSP investigation ships, a limo trip, cell phones, parking also led a Washington, D.C., watch- and new computers. Twenty former dog group to petition the Feder - lawmakers were still spending left- al Election Commission to specify over donations more than a decade which costs former lawmakers can after they left office. pay with campaign donations. It also Roughly half of the zombie cam- asks the agency to place a time limit paigns were kept open by ex-lawmak- on how long campaign accounts can

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remain open. On March 21, the FEC began a 60- day public comment period. Com- missioners are expected to review the proposal after that.

Contact Christopher O’Donnell at [email protected] or (813) 226-3446. Follow @codonnell_ Times.

| 3 | Read the pdf or click here to read online

Published April 27, 2018 Zombie Campaigns | 6 | Tampa Bay Times

Zombie Campaigns | 6 Spending will get closer scrutiny The targets, starting in July, are dormant campaigns that have hoarded money

By CHRISTOPHER O’DONNELL Times Staff Writer

Published online April 26 and in print April 27.

The federal agency that oversees elections has announced a crack- down on former lawmakers who con- tinue to spend leftover campaign do- nations long after leaving office. The Federal Election Commission announced Wednesday that it will start scrutinizing the spending of what it called “dormant” campaigns — those maintained by former law- makers who took advantage of a loop- hole that allowed them to hoard un- spent campaign donations for years. It comes after a Tampa Bay Times/10News WTSP investigation missioners, who had previously re- found that the agency ignored cam- fused to comment on the Times/ paign finance reports showing more WTSP investigation, called “Zombie than 100 former politicians carried Campaigns.” The report detailed that on spending donations even though former lawmakers and former candi- they were no longer campaigning. In dates spent leftover donations on air- some cases, these zombie campaigns line tickets, club memberships, a limo remained open for more than a de- trip, cell phones, parking and new cade. computers. Six campaign finance ex- “I think this is great, a really posi- perts said that and other spending tive step the FEC is taking,” said Adav identified by the Times/WTSP were Noti, a former FEC attorney who is potential election law violations. In a now a senior director for the Cam- few cases, spending continued after paign Legal Center, a Washington the lawmaker had died. D.C. watchdog group. “For them to FEC vice chairwoman Ellen Wein- do this in the middle of an election cy- traub, a Democratic appointee, said cle is highly unusual.” the Times/WTSP report highlighted The extra scrutiny of former law- a problem that was not on the FEC’s makers’ spending will begin in July. It radar. The need for action was sup- will apply to the campaigns of former ported by all four of the agency’s com- U.S House candidates who did not missioners, she said. campaign or hold office during the “It was encouraging that the en- previous two years and to former U.S. tire Commission saw this as a prob- Senate and presidential candidates lem that needs to be addressed and who have been out of office and not agreed on a course of action that campaigning for four years. would be a good first step,” she said. The move was approved in a closed- “I’ve always been concerned about the door meeting Tuesday by FEC com- potential for personal use and advo-

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cated for strengthening those prohi- reported spending more than $1,800 bitions.” on Feb. 7 on a “fundraising expense” It’s unclear how effective the new at The Source, a pricey Wolfgang FEC policy will be, however. Puck restaurant in Washington DC. The agency, which has 33 analysts, But Cramer, who left office in 2009 is not planning to add more staff and went into lobbying, did not re- to help with the additional work, a port any fundraising receipts in the spokeswoman said. Last year, the first quarter and has not filed paper- agency was responsible for reviewing work to run for office. Candidates are some 26 million financial transac- prohibited from most fundraising ac- tions. That number will rise this year tivities when they have not declared with U.S. House and Senate races for an office. He could not be reached across the county. for comment. In the past, when spending by for- Former Congressman , mer politicians has been questioned, R-Fla., has continued paying his wife little if any action resulted. In eight $1,000 per month to file his quarter- cases identified by theTimes/WTSP, ly FEC report, his latest filing shows. campaigns were asked for more in- More than five years after he left of- formation, sent the FEC paperwork fice, campaign funds covered nearly stating they were not running for of- $200 in “internet/wifi” expenses in fice, then continued spending. January and February. The new oversight also stops short And former South Carolina Dem- of the legal changes watchdog groups ocratic congressman Robin Tallon, and two veteran Tampa Bay feder- who has kept his campaign account al lawmakers say are needed to de- open for 25 years, paid $1,000 to his ter ex-politicians from hoarding and son for filing a 15-page handwritten spending campaign funds. report to the FEC. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, the Palm Har- Other ex-lawmakers’ campaigns bor Republican, and Rep. Kathy have changed their spending habits in Castor, the Tampa Democrat, are the wake of the Times/WTSP report. co-sponsoring the “Honest Elections Dylan Beesley, a former campaign and Campaign, No Gain Act.”The adviser who took over as treasurer of bipartisan bill requires outgoing the campaign of deceased Congress- lawmakers to close their campaign man Mark Takai, paid himself more accounts within two years and also than $100,000 over a 17-month peri- bans payments to family members od for “consulting” after Takai’s 2016 once they leave office. death. That led to a watchdog group “I think it’s positive the FEC is going filing a complaint against him with to a shine a light on this and review the FEC. these campaigns but it’s no substitute In the first quarter of 2018, howev- for our bipartisan bill,” Castor said. er, he paid himself just $1,500, rough- “The FEC is just requesting a review ly $5,000 less than in the first quarter – our bill would terminate those zom- of 2017. bie campaigns after an election cycle. They need that.” WTSP reporter Noah Pransky and In addition, the Campaign Legal Times data reporter Connie Hum- Center petitioned the FEC in Febru- burg contributed to this report. Con- ary to introduce stricter rules for how tact Christopher O’Donnell at co- former lawmakers spend leftover [email protected] or (813) campaign money. A 60-day public 226-3446. Follow @codonnell_ comment period on the petition ends Times. May 21. “Some commissioners may now say we’ve already stepped up enforce- ment in this area so we don’t need to strengthen the rules,” Noti said. “That would be disappointing and concern- ing.” Based on the most recent campaign filings, there will be no shortage of spending for FEC analysts to ques- tion. Congressman Bud Cramer, R-Ala.,

| 3 | Read the pdf or click here to read online

Published August 20, 2018 Zombie Campaigns | 7 | Tampa Bay Times

Zombie Campaigns | 7 Zombie cash still flows Federal scrutiny of ex-office holders’ campaign funds won’t begin until 2019

By Christopher O’Donnell and Connie Humburg Times Staff Writers

Four months ago, the federal agen- begin doing what it should have been cy that oversees elections announced doing all along,” Noti said. that it would finally begin cracking The FEC’s crackdown was an - down on former lawmakers who nounced after a Tampa Bay hoard and spend leftover campaign Times/10News WTSP investigation, donations long after they leave office. called Zombie Campaigns, found that That didn’t seem to make a differ- the agency ignored campaign finance ence to some former congressmen. reports showing more than 100 for- Former Florida Rep. Cliff Stearns, a mer politicians carried on spending Republican who lost his seat in 2012, donations even though they were no dipped into campaign donations to longer campaigning. In some cases, pay for internet service and continued these campaigns remained open for paying a $1,000 monthly salary to his more than a decade. wife in the weeks following the an- Retired lawmakers and former nouncement. candidates spent leftover donations And former California congress- on airline tickets, club memberships, man Gary Miller added anoth - a limo trip, cell phones, parking and er $2,400 in salary to the almost new computers, reporters found. $82,000 he had already paid his wife It’s unclear if the new guidelines since leaving office in 2015. He also unveiled by the FEC would curb such paid rent on office space and the tab spending. They apply to the cam- for several meals at a Claremont eat- paigns of former U.S House candi- ery, Kick Back Jack’s. dates who did not campaign or hold It turns out Stearns and Miller had office during the previous two years little reason to worry. and to former U.S. Senate and presi- The Federal Election Commission dential candidates who have been out acknowledged last week that it ac- of office and not campaigning for four tually won’t begin scrutinizing the years. spending of former office holders un- FEC analysts have been instructed til 2019. to look for spending on rent, utility FEC spokeswoman Judith Ingram payments, telephones, spending on said that was always the timetable meals, club memberships and concert agreed by commissioners in a closed- and sporting event tickets, among room session in April, but that the other items. agency had accidentally announced But Noti and two veteran Tam- the wrong start date. pa Bay federal lawmakers say the That is an unnecessary delay, said new oversight stops short of the legal Adav Noti, a former FEC attorney changes that are needed to curtail the who is now a senior director for the misuse of campaign funds highlight- Campaign Legal Center, a Washing- ed by the Times/WTSP report. ton D.C. watchdog group. Ex-law- The Campaign Legal Center is still makers have been given plenty of no- waiting for the FEC to act on a peti- tice, he said. tion it filed in February calling for the “I don’t see any reason why the FEC FEC to specify what costs former law- needs to wait another six months to makers can expense with campaign

| 2 | Zombie Campaigns | 7 | Tampa Bay Times

donations and to place a time limit $1 million remaining in his still-open on how long campaign accounts can campaign account. remain open. A 60-day public com- ment period on the petition ended Contact Christopher O’Donnell at co- May 21. [email protected] Follow @ And in April, Rep. Gus Bilirakis, codonnell_Times. the Palm Harbor Republican, and Rep. Kathy Castor, the Tampa Dem- ocrat, cosponsored a bill that requires outgoing lawmakers to close their campaign accounts within two years and also bans payments to family members once they leave office. But the bill, which was co-spon- sored by Colorado Republican Con- gressman Mike Coffman, seems to have stalled. “Unfortunately, it’s going to be an uphill battle,” said Castor, who plans to push the bill again if the Demo- crats win control of the House of Rep- resentatives in the upcoming mid- term elections. “People are very fed up with this climate of corruption.” Stearns, who has spent $143,000 so far this year, still has $1.5 million in unspent political donations. He did not respond to a voicemail on his cell- phone seeking comment. Miller still has $293,00 in unused donations. A call to his business office was not returned. Still, with the threat of extra scru- tiny, some ex-lawmakers have begun changing their behavior. Former Florida senator George LeMieux was a focus of the Times/ WTSP investigation for spending on events and paying more than $40,000 to a political campaign con- sultant even though he wasn’t cam- paigning. In February, he converted his campaign account into a political action committee called the Florida Freedom Committee, a move that allows him to make unlimited dona- tions to political parties and other po- litical committees. And former South Carolina Dem- ocrat Robin Tallon seems to have curbed some of his post-retirement campaign spending, which previous- ly included thousands of dollars on computers and tens of thousands of dollars on unexplained “reimburse- ments.” After paying more than $22,000 to his son, Robert Tallon III, to file campaign reports over more than a decade, Tallon appointed a new trea- surer in July. Still, a quarter century after leav- ing office in 1993, he has more than

| 3 | Zombie Campaigns | X | Tampa Bay Times

Zombie Campaigns | 8

Online only: tampabay.com/zombiedatabase

Published online January 31, 2018

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Supplemental material

Digital Highlights

ZombieCampaigns.com

Reddit: Top-Ranked Journalist AMA of All-Time

Facebook

Newsprint Highlights

Other reporting inspired by our findings

Congressional Letters

2019 duPont-Columbia Award

2018 Int’l Data 2018 Suncoast Journalism Awards Emmy Awards Shortlisted – Top Investigation Winner – Investigative Series