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2023-04-17 RHJ To FEC Re Political Donations
2023-04-17 RHJ To FEC Re Political Donations
Dear Commissioners:
On March 28, 2023, the O’Keefe Media Group posted a video online alleging that
political donations are being made in large amounts to certain political groups without the
donors’ knowledge.1 The claims in the video were apparently based on public Federal Election
Commission (FEC) data that displays donor information, including the amount of money
individuals have donated to certain political groups.2 On March 29, 2023, my staff emailed the
FEC’s legislative affairs office to request a briefing regarding FEC’s awareness of the
information presented in the video and to discuss what, if any, action the FEC has taken, is
taking, or will take to address the allegations raised in the video.
The FEC initially offered to brief my staff about the video, however, after my staff
confirmed a date and time for the briefing, the FEC informed my office that it was no longer
willing to provide the requested briefing. In addition, on April 10, 2023, the FEC stated that it
would provide my office a letter the following day explaining why it will not provide a briefing.
By April 12, 2023, my office had not received the FEC’s letter and so my staff asked for a status
update. The FEC’s legislative affairs office told my staff that the FEC is still working on its
response and it is unclear when it will provide the letter to my office.
I am disappointed that the FEC is refusing to provide transparency about its awareness of
potential misconduct regarding political donations. It is important for the FEC to be forthcoming
with Congress and the public in order to maintain confidence in the FEC’s abilities to address
1
O’Keefe Media Group Uncovers Potential Massive Money Laundering into Political Campaigns, YouTube, Mar.
28, 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnKCPK_OACc.
2
Id.
April 17, 2023
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potential wrongdoing. With this in mind, I request the FEC provide a full explanation related to
the allegations contained in the March 28, 2023 video.
Sincerely,
Ron Johnson
Ranking Member
Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations