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The District’s Office of Campaign Finance (OCF) is reviewing a developing story, where DC governments top law enforcement official accepted thousands of dollars in illegal campaign contributions.
DC Attorney General Karl Racine’s 2014 campaign accepted at least $3,500 in excessive contributions, according to a review of records by NBC News 4.
DC election law stipulates campaign contributions for Attorney General cannot/should not exceed $1,500. Yet, four donors gave more than the acceptable amount. These donors, Home Depot, AT&T, and three individuals all since had amounts totaling $3,500 return to them by DC Attorney General Racine.
News4 was told by a senior advisor to the Racine campaign via email, “As soon as the oversight was pointed out, it was reviewed quickly, and once validated, refunds were issued within 24 hours.”
DC resident Stephanie Wexler finds the whole situation as interesting.
“What I find interesting about the situation,” she says, “is he’s the same person who’s proposed legislation to prohibit businesses that donate local campaigns from seeking contracts with the District government. In a city like DC and the way Mayor Bowser’s PAC came and went, I don’t see much coming out of that.”
There’s no word from the OFC on whether or not Racine’s campaign would be fined, “the matter is still under review”. The illegal contributions were brought to the attention of the OCF and Racine by News 4.
Illegal campaign contributions in the District of Colombia is nothing new. Recently, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser’s campaign was fined $13,000 for accepting $11,000 in illegal contributions. Those contributions were also returned.
It’s also been rumored, Karl Racine is strongly considering to challenge Bowser in the next election.
