WASHINGTON – On Monday,  U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), ranking member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, sent a letter to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) regarding a video posted online by the O’Keefe Media Group on March 28, 2023 alleging that political donations are being made in large amounts to certain political groups without the donors’ knowledge.

The claims in the video were apparently based on public FEC data that displays donor information, including the amount of money individuals have donated to certain political groups.  

On March 29, 2023, Senator Johnson’s staff emailed the FEC’s legislative affairs office to request a briefing regarding FEC’s awareness of the information presented in the video and to discuss what, if any, action the FEC has taken, is taking, or will take to address the allegations raised in the video.

The FEC initially offered to brief the senator’s staff about the video, however, after staff confirmed a date and time for the briefing, the FEC informed the senator’s office that it was no longer willing to provide the requested briefing.  The FEC initially told staff that it would provide a letter the following day explaining why it will not provide a briefing, but it did not do so until several days later on April 17, 2023, hours after Senator Johnson wrote to the FEC.  The FEC’s letter stated without much detail that it could not provide the requested briefing due to confidentiality limitations relating to potential enforcement activities.  The FEC did not confirm or deny it was looking into the allegations raised in the online video.

“I am disappointed that the FEC is refusing to provide transparency about its awareness of potential misconduct regarding political donations,” Senator Johnson wrote.  “It is important for the FEC to be forthcoming with Congress and the public in order to maintain confidence in the FEC’s abilities to address potential wrongdoing.  With this in mind, I request the FEC provide a full explanation related to the allegations contained in the March 28, 2023 video.”  

Read more about the letter in the Daily Caller.

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

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 April 17, 2023 

Dara Lindenbaum                                                                            

Chair

Federal Election Commission

Sean J. Cooksey

Vice Chairman

Federal Election Commission

 

Shana M. Broussard

Commissioner

Federal Election Commission

 

Allen Dickerson

Commissioner

Federal Election Commission

 

James E. Trainor III

Commissioner

Federal Election Commission

 

Ellen L. Weintraub

Commissioner

Federal Election Commission

 

Dear Commissioners:

            On March 28, 2023, the O’Keefe Media Group posted a video online alleging that political donations are being made in large amounts to certain political groups without the donors’ knowledge.[1]  The claims in the video were apparently based on public Federal Election Commission (FEC) data that displays donor information, including the amount of money individuals have donated to certain political groups.[2]  On March 29, 2023, my staff emailed the FEC’s legislative affairs office to request a briefing regarding FEC’s awareness of the information presented in the video and to discuss what, if any, action the FEC has taken, is taking, or will take to address the allegations raised in the video. 

The FEC initially offered to brief my staff about the video, however, after my staff confirmed a date and time for the briefing, the FEC informed my office that it was no longer willing to provide the requested briefing.  In addition, on April 10, 2023, the FEC stated that it would provide my office a letter the following day explaining why it will not provide a briefing.  By April 12, 2023, my office had not received the FEC’s letter and so my staff asked for a status update.  The FEC’s legislative affairs office told my staff that the FEC is still working on its response and it is unclear when it will provide the letter to my office.

I am disappointed that the FEC is refusing to provide transparency about its awareness of potential misconduct regarding political donations.  It is important for the FEC to be forthcoming with Congress and the public in order to maintain confidence in the FEC’s abilities to address potential wrongdoing.  With this in mind, I request the FEC provide a full explanation related to the allegations contained in the March 28, 2023 video. 

                                                                        Sincerely,

                                                                                   

                                                                        Ron Johnson

                                                                        Ranking Member

                                                                        Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations

 

cc:       The Honorable Richard Blumenthal

            Chairman

            Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations

 

            Mr. Christopher Skinner

            Inspector General

            Federal Election Commission