Former 2012 Republican presidential candidate and Sen. Rick Santorum
(R-Pa.) broke campaign finance rules by directing a $1 million check
from a donor to a super PAC backing his candidacy, according to a
complaint filed on Wednesday by government watchdog groups.
The Campaign Legal Center and Democracy 21 filed a joint complaint with the FEC
against Santorum for allegedly directing a $1 million contribution from
energy executive Bill Doré to Red White And Blue Fund, a super PAC run
by former Santorum staffers. While a candidate like Santorum can ask a
donor to give money to a super PAC, it is a violation of campaign
finance laws to direct or solicit a contribution above the legal limit
of $5,000.
Red White And Blue Fund was instrumental to Santorum's unexpected success
in the Republican presidential primaries. Santorum's campaign was short
on money for most of the primary season, but the super PAC -- powered
by contributions from Doré and Wyoming investor Foster Friess -- was
able to spend enough money to help Santorum eke out a win in the Iowa
caucuses and to push him into position as eventual Republican nominee
Mitt Romney's chief competition.
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