Newly released Federal Election Commission filings raises a number of legal questions about a Super PAC supporting Sen. Bernie Sanders’ bid for the Democratic presidential nomination.
According to a report from the Center for Public Integrity, the mid-year report from Americans Socially United has major financial discrepancies, and even reports contributions from legally ineligible donors.
CPI calls the report "a mess."
[O]ne section of the report lists the super PAC’s total receipts as about $91,000, while other figures indicate it collected about $114,000.
Americans Socially United also states in its report that it refunded a significant portion of the money it collected. But the exact amount is again unclear.
One section of the report states the super PAC refunded about $54,000 in total to donors. Yet another indicates that that number is higher — nearly $80,000 — including $50,000 from a foreign national identified as Alejandro Fernandez of La Paz and $25,000 from a second foreigner simply identified as Anthony Rice.
Only U.S. citizens and green card holders are allowed to donate to federal candidates and political committees.
The Sanders campaign has officially disavowed the group and sent it a cease and desist letter.
Americans Socially United made headlines earlier this month when CPI reported that actor Daniel Craig, best known as the most recent James Bond, had given the group nearly $50,000.
A number of its other contributors say they donated to the group thinking it was the official Sanders for President campaign, CPI reported.