For Immediate Release
Thursday, October 4, 2018
Contact: Brad Bainum, bradb@wisdems.org

Vukmir denies breaking the law, in response to FEC letter, but offers no evidence to back up claim

MADISON — Republican U.S. Senate candidate Leah Vukmir is today denying that her campaign violated federal campaign finance laws by illegally using state campaign committee funds for federal campaign expenditures benefiting her U.S. Senate campaign.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “Vukmir’s campaign denied the allegations” but did not offer any evidence in support of their denial. Similarly, Vukmir’s campaign offered zero explanation as to why Vukmir’s state campaign account has made 53 disbursements on a variety of topics — including for “Candidate Expenses,” “Meals,” “Travel,” and “Phone / Cell Phone” bills — since Vukmir began her U.S. Senate campaign.

Historically, Vukmir has gone to great lengths to deny impropriety and seek to prevent scrutiny of her actions as a legislator. In 2013 and 2014, Vukmir was sued after refusing to comply with an open records request and turn over documents related to her work for the corporate special interest group ALEC. Ultimately, Vukmir lost, but not before sticking Wisconsin taxpayers with a $15,000 bill.

Today, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin sent a letter to the Federal Election Commission calling for an investigation into whether Vukmir and her U.S. Senate campaign violated federal campaign finance law by improperly using state committee funds in support of her federal campaign.