Monday, October 31, 2011

Cain's Wisconsin Campaign Aides Flaunt Campaign and Federal Tax Laws.

Mr. 9-9-9 Flim Flam, meet Mr. Really Crooked. 

Herman Cain may soon have a big problem, thanks to two operatives from Wisconsin, who may have broken federal tax and campaign laws. 
jsonline-Dan Bice: Herman Cain's two top campaign aides ran a private Wisconsin-based corporation that helped the GOP presidential candidate get his fledgling campaign off the ground by originally footing the bill for tens of thousands of dollars in expenses for such items as iPads, chartered flights and travel to Iowa and Las Vegas - something that might breach federal tax and campaign law, according to sources and documents. Internal financial records obtained by No Quarter show that Prosperity USA said it was owed about $40,000 by the Cain campaign for a variety of items in February and March.

Prosperity USA was owned and run by Wisconsin political operatives Mark Block and Linda Hansen, Cain's current chief of staff and deputy chief of staff, respectively.

Election law experts say the transactions raise a host of questions for the private organization, which billed itself as a tax-exempt nonprofit, and the Cain team. "If the records accurately reflect what occurred, this is way out of bounds," said a Washington, D.C.-based election lawyer who advises many Republican candidates and conservative groups on campaign issues.

Michael Maistelman, a Wisconsin campaign attorney, agreed. "The number of questionable and possibly illegal transactions conducted on behalf of Herman Cain is staggering."

Block … is best known in the state for his role as campaign manager (and being) Accused of election law violations, Block settled the case by agreeing to pay a $15,000 fine and to stay out of Wisconsin politics for three years. Block ran the state chapter of Americans for Prosperity, a nonprofit cofounded by the conservative Koch brothers. It was through Americans for Prosperity that Block met Cain and encouraged him to run for national office. 

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