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GOP Embezzler Claims Another Victim
We were given a pretty good idea of how much money Christopher Ward allegedly embezzled from the National Republican Congressional Committee, after the committee released an audit two weeks ago showing the former treasurer appears to have taken $725,000 from its coffers over a six-year span. The audit further revealed that the National Republican Senatorial Committee also lost at least $28,000.
But Ward served as treasurer of dozens of other GOP committees as well, and news of more victims keeps trickling out -- even going beyond the continental United States. The latest: Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Luis Fortuño (R), who reports a loss of $40,000 and thus now reigns as the biggest individual victim so far in the scandal.
On Friday, Fortuño's political action committee, the Leading Us in Success PAC, quietly filed 23 amended reports with the Federal Election Commission, with some going all the way back to 2005. The new reports show four different payments to Ward in 2007 now classified as "unauthorized disbursements" for a total of $40,000.
It's not clear why Fortuño amended reports from 2005 and 2006, since those new reports don't appear to show any inappropriate payments to Ward. Fortuño's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
For the record, LUIS PAC is at least the seventh committee (other than the NRCC and the NRSC) to report suspected theft by Ward, with their combined losses now exceeding $100,000. The total includes the five committees listed in this chart plus Rep. Phil English's (R-Pa.) PAC. After Fortuño, the second biggest individual victim so far is Rep. James Walsh (R-N.Y.), whose PAC reported a $20,000 loss.
By Ben Pershing |
June 24, 2008; 7:00 PM ET
Ethics and Rules
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Fundraising Circuit
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Posted by: ratface | June 25, 2008 11:51 AM
I can see Bill O'Rielly salivating to get this blown all over the airwaves! Just imagine Hannity singing the chorus to him on that!
Posted by: Mick | June 25, 2008 11:59 AM
Ho hum...just the latest Republican scandal du jour.
I wonder if there is ANY perfidy or criminality "pie" that they wouldn't poke their greedy little fingers into...
Posted by: PETE TENNEY | June 25, 2008 12:18 PM
Couldn't happen to nicer folks. Perhaps is was god will that he steal from the rich and give to himself. It is the "Party of the Wide Stance" position to steal from the taxpayer in the name of outsourcing to say taxpayer money. Did the RNC actually believe that all Republicans are honest when they are lying theives themselves. "In the company of theives, everyman watches his wallet."
Posted by: Tom | June 25, 2008 12:59 PM
So typical in this party of greedy crooks and it goes all the way to the top through the most pathetic, lying, venal, snake of them all...little dick cheney....TD
Posted by: scarface | June 25, 2008 2:46 PM
When you believe in money to the extent that the Republican money base does and the greed is good values of the Reagan era, this is bound to happen. A solution is not to allow anyone elected or not to be in the same position two terms in a row, whatever the lenght of that specific term might be. Apply to the more moral party too. They have their own cold cash issue. Just not a prevalent a problem as the GOP. Just wait until the real truth about the Chaney regime comes out during the Obama administration.
Posted by: Euge005 | June 25, 2008 8:04 PM
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Didn't that fool know that "it is ok to steal from Taxpayers" just not the RNC?