Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto calls on FEC to end refund policy for illegal campaign contributions

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto has called on the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) to end its policy of providing refunds to donors who make illegal campaign contributions. In a letter on Tuesday to the FEC, Masto states that some individuals are making illegal donations without fear of “meaningful penalties.” The current FEC regulation requires donors who make illegal contributions to pay a fine, but they can receive their donation back. The fines that are levied against these donors are often smaller than the campaign donation, allowing the donor to not lose any money. Thus, allowing “individuals who have violated the law to walk away in the black, having recouped more than they paid in fines,” says Masto. She argued that this current regulation undermines the FEC’s ability to hold those who violate the law accountable for their actions. 

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