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AOC finally responds to ‘dark money’ allegations as questions surrounding FEC complaint grow

March 5, 2019 | | Print Article

After a noticeable silence, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez finally responded to allegations of campaign finance law violations leveled in an FEC complaint.

The New York Democrat was asked by reporters about a complaint filed with the Federal Election Commission by a  conservative government watchdog alleging that she and her chief of staff, Saikat Chakrabarti, funneled nearly $1 million in contributions from political action committees to two of his private companies.

“Do you have any comment on the FEC violation filed against you,” a reporter asked Ocasio-Cortez Tuesday as she arrived at Ronald Reagan National Airport, Fox News reported.

“There is no violation,” the Freshman congresswoman replied.

When she was asked about any connection to “dark money” during her campaign, Ocasio-Cortez responded, “No, no.”

Chakrabarti had defended the actions as “transparent” in a tweet Monday.

The complaint, filed by the National Legal and Policy Center, claims Chakrabarti transferred more than $885,000 in contributions received by Brand New Congress PAC and Justice Democrats PAC – which he established – to the Brand New Campaign LLC and the Brand New Congress LLC.

“But no precise accounting for the expenses is available, and the complaint asks the FEC to conduct an investigation into the matter immediately,” Fox News reported.

“It sounds to a lot of people like that’s a way to skirt the campaign finance laws in this country,” former Rep. Jason Chaffetz said on Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom.”

“And the FEC and the other regulators need to get in there and find out where was this money going – was it going to people’s pockets? Was it legitimate or not?” the former Utah Republican said.

Ocasio-Cortez’s control of the PAC while it supported her primary campaign was reportedly never disclosed by the lawmaker, a violation that could land her in jail.

“If the facts as alleged are true, and a candidate had control over a PAC that was working to get that candidate elected, then that candidate is potentially in very big trouble and may have engaged in multiple violations of federal campaign finance law, including receiving excessive contributions,” former Republican FEC commissioner Hans von Spakovsky told The Daily Caller News Foundation.

The issue has become more ironic in light of Ocasio-Cortez’s rant about dark money and campaign finance laws during a congressional hearing last month.

Just days ago, the Coolidge Reagan Foundation filed a complaint with the FEC alleging that thousands of dollars were laundered through a through a political action committee to her boyfriend, Riley Roberts.

Roberts was allegedly paid $6,000 by the PAC owned by Chakrabarti.

Twitter users reacted to Ocasio-Cortez’s denial of violating campaign finance laws on Tuesday.

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