Sanders Campaign Settles FEC Suit Over Illegal Donations From Australians

Bernie Sanders Image by getty images
The Federal Elections Commission ruled that Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign illegally received foreign donations with the help of Australian volunteers, Bloomberg Government reported.
Australians underwritten by the Australian Labor Party worked for Sanders’ campaign, receiving over $24,000 total for airfare and stipends. The campaign workers were apparently only present for the New Hampshire primary.
The FEC recently ruled that the payments count as a foreign contribution under US law and are therefore illegal.
According to suit filings, the Sanders campaign settled the suit “in order to avoid the expense of litigation, without admitting liability.”
The suit followed a complaint filed in 2016 against Sanders’ campaign.
Contact Ari Feldman at [email protected] or on Twitter @aefeldman
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
