Hey Everyone,
Last week in an email (see below) about the shenanigans some big money insiders are playing in Maine’s Democrat primary for U.S. Senate, the RNC revealed that billionaire hedge fund manager S. Donald Sussman’s PAC is actively supporting Sara Gideon and steering donors to her campaign.
Please understand, it isn’t spin to call it his PAC, Donald Sussman has donated more than 90% of the PACs total funding as one of only two donors.
( https://twitter.com/mikeshepherdME/status/1143897545854398469 )
Sussman has a history of throwing around big money in Maine. He even bought most of the newspapers in Maine’s First Congressional District when he was married to Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (engagement announced after she got caught illegally flying on his private jet and was facing an FEC investigation.) They ‘separated’ again when questions were asked about his financial assets and her failure to file an updated financial disclosure before the annual deadline.
( https://nlpc.org/2010/10/05/maine-gop-files-complaint-against-rep-pingree-alleged-fec-violations/ )
In late May, the Tampa Bay Times reported that Mr. Sussman (who reportedly lives in FL now) had been subpoenaed in a federal grand jury investigation related to Andrew Gillum’s failed campaign for Governor of Florida. Sussman underwrote Gillum’s campaign to the tune of $1.5 million. A known staffer associated with Sussman was also issued a subpoena.
Previous troubles Gillum has faced with his state’s ethics commission suggest he could be, let’s say, one of those politicians who is willing to be flexible and accept gifts from wealthy donors.
In Maine, Speaker Sara Gideon is doing all she can to copycat her opponent’s claims to be against big money/corporate money in politics, but it doesn’t get any more “big corporate money” or “corporate PAC” than Mr. S. Donald Sussman, with his multiple corporations and vast sums of money parked in offshore accounts.
Previous troubles Gillum has faced with his state’s ethics commission suggest he could be, let’s say, one of those politicians who is willing to be flexible and accept gifts from wealthy donors.
In Maine, Speaker Sara Gideon is doing all she can to copycat her opponent’s claims to be against big money/corporate money in politics, but it doesn’t get any more “big corporate money” or “corporate PAC” than Mr. S. Donald Sussman, with his multiple corporations and vast sums of money parked in offshore accounts.
We thought Sussman had reached the pinnacle of his infamy when he was named in “Offshore Leaks” (forerunner to the “Panama Papers”) along with all sorts of unsavory and corrupt characters from around the globe. But with the Gillum subpoena, who knows, maybe Speaker Gideon’s billionaire buddy has one final crowning scandal for us. (https://freebeacon.com/issues/offshore-tax-haven-leak-implicates-seven-figure-pro-clinton-donor/ )
If Sara Gideon is going to accept support from Mr. Stealthy-Wealthy himself, she needs to take down all her ads about opposing corporate PACs and corporate money and put up some ads admitting the truth. (https://sunlightfoundation.com/2012/12/07/stealthy-wealthy-donald-sussman/)
Here’s what it could say:
“Hedge fund billionaires, elite New York politicians, and Washington insiders are lining up to rig this primary for Sara Gideon.
Federal subpoenas won’t stop them, and money from offshore tax havens can pay for it.”
An ad like that would be a lot more true than what she’s saying right now now.
—–
“this is a well-coordinated effort to clear a field that isn’t clear.”
From: Nina McLaughlin – Communications/Research <[email protected]>
To: Jason Savage <[email protected]>Jun 26, 2019, 4:51 PMYikes.
Fellow Maine Senate Democrat candidates are lashing out at Sara Gideon after she was crowned party favorite by Chuck Schumer, only moments after she officially announced her candidacy.
Previously announced candidates Betsy Sweet and Bre Kidman bashed Sara Gideon for receiving immediate support from Washington D.C. insiders as Schumer’s hand-picked candidate.
What’s more, Gideon has already flip-flopped on a pledge she made to voters to not accept any corporate PAC money.
Even the Maine press weighed in to highlight the immediate support for Sara Gideon from liberal billionaire, Donald Sussman, and other big-money Washington PACs and groups, saying “this is a well-coordinated effort to clear a field that isn’t clear.”
Not a great start for Sara Gideon.
“Sara Gideon is a flip-flopping Chuck Schumer protégé, handpicked by Washington D.C. elites who know nothing about Maine. The fact remains, Senator Susan Collins has delivered for Maine and will continue to do so when she is re-elected.”– RNC Spokesperson Nina McLaughlin
Nina McLaughlin
Republican National Committee
