The Campaign Legal Center (CLC) which filed the FEC complaint over this called this practice likely illegal, with the sole intent of disguising where these funds in benefit of Susan Collins actually came from, now to the tune of $1.5mil dollars. Notably, just $500 of that has come from any Maine residents.
The FEC is largely a toothless organization now, without even a quorum of commissioners to rule on this complaint. Dark money is virtually free to roam around at this point, which is just as Republicans like it.
Source: The Daily Beast
A mysterious Hawaii company may have illegally funneled a six-figure contribution to a political group boosting an embattled Republican Senator 5,000 miles away, an ethics watchdog alleged on Monday.
The company, Society of Young Women Scientist and Engineers LLC, was formed in late November, according to corporate records in Hawaii. Just over a month later, on December 31, the company donated $150,000 to 1820 PAC, a deep-pocketed super PAC with ties to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce that was created to help reelect Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME).
There is scant public information about the company. It does not appear to have a website or any social media presence. Its listed address is a P.O. box in Honolulu (listed as a “unit” number in 1820’s FEC filings). Google searches turn up no information on the company. And there’s no record of prior political involvement by its sole officer, Jennifer Lam.
And who is behind this organization? We're not sure, but there are ties to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a quasi-Republican outfit which uses the guise of a pro-business organization to benefit Republicans and conservative causes. In 2008 it was found that just 45 people were behind and donators to that organization.
1820 PAC is one of the most prominent super PACs in the fight over control of the U.S. Senate, which could very much rest on Collins’ ability to hold her seat in the 2020 elections. As The Daily Beast has reported, 1820 PAC has notable ties to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the nation’s largest business lobby and a heavy hitter in national politics.
1820 PAC has raised more than $1.5 million for its pro-Collins campaign. Its top donors include prominent financial services executives Stephen Schwarzman and Warren Stephens. The group has reported just $500 in contributions from donors in Maine.
