Contributor Marc Thiessen joins “America’s Newsroom” to discuss growing concerns surrounding President Biden’s age and why Democrats need a plan B for 2024. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., transferred $75,000 from his campaign’s coffers to his wife and stepson’s nonprofit during the third quarter, Digital has found. The money from the senator’s campaign went to the Sanders Institute on Aug. 8, according to its recently released Federal Election Commission filings. The cash follows the $200,000 that the committee sent to the nonprofit earlier this year. The institute was established by Sanders’ wife, Jane, and his stepson, David Driscoll, six years ago as a think tank to elevate progressive mouthpieces.
However, concerns have been raised about the legitimacy of these transfers. Kendra Arnold, executive director of the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust, expressed, “The facts present in this case and the family ties involved certainly raise legitimate concern.” She explained that while the percentage of the nonprofit’s salary payouts is not necessarily problematic, it depends on whether the salaries were paid for bona fide services at fair market value. If the nonprofit and its executive director are truly producing work and earning the money, it is not illegal, but if little work is being done to justify the compensation, it could be a serious campaign finance violation.
The Sanders Institute, which initially aimed to revitalize democracy and support progressive institutions, ceased operations in 2019 to avoid any appearance of impropriety as Sanders entered the Democrat presidential primary. However, it has since quietly resumed operations. Recent tax forms from 2021 reveal that the institute disbursed nearly 40% of its contributions to salaries while seemingly performing minimal work.
In 2021, the institute raised nearly $717,000 and allocated $257,000 to wages, including $152,653 in salary and other compensation to Driscoll, its executive director. The institute also spent significant amounts on producing The Timeline Project, a policy-focused resource based on Bernie Sanders’ work, as well as on news sites, social media, and content creation. However, there is little evidence of substantial achievements or tangible outcomes from these endeavors.
Furthermore, the institute reported no grants to other progressive organizations in its 2021 tax records, despite its stated intention to support like-minded institutions. These findings raise questions about the institute’s effectiveness and the purpose of the funds it receives.
It is worth noting that this is not the first time Sanders’ campaign has directed funds to the institute. In 2021, his presidential committee transferred $350,000 to the nonprofit, accounting for nearly half of its total funds raised that year. Approximately 40% of these donations went towards salaries, with Sanders’ stepson receiving a significant portion.
Digital reached out to Sanders’ campaign for comment on these transfers, but they did not respond.
In conclusion, the transfer of campaign funds to the Sanders Institute raises legitimate concerns about potential campaign finance violations and the effectiveness of the nonprofit’s activities. The allocation of a significant portion of funds to salaries, coupled with the lack of tangible outcomes, raises questions about the institute’s accountability and impact. These findings highlight the need for transparency and oversight in campaign finance practices.
