The Federal Election Commission says a Florida car dealership formerly owned by U.S. Representative Vern Buchanan illegally reimbursed employees’ donations to his congressional campaigns.
The FEC on May 27 asked the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida to fine the company $67,900, the amount it allegedly spent to reimburse employees and others for donations to the Florida Republican’s 2006 and 2008 campaigns. The dealership’s actions were “not a mere error or lapse in judgment,” the FEC said in its court filing. “It was an extensive and ongoing scheme that spanned two election cycles, three calendar years, and dozens of secret, illegal contributions.”
The Buchanan campaign’s finance director, Celena Thibodeux, issued a statement describing the matter as “an issue between the FEC and Hyundai of North Jacksonville, which Vern Buchanan has no interest or stake in,”
… Buchanan, 60, won his first House election in 2006 by 369 votes over Democrat Christine Jennings. He was re-elected in 2008 and 2010, winning last year with about 69 percent of the vote. He is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.
Full Article: FEC Seeks $67,900 Penalty Against Lawmaker’s Former Dealership – Bloomberg.