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Michael Steele, RNC Accused of Concealing $7 Million in Debt
In a memo to GOP budget officers, Republican National Committee Treasurer Randy Pullen accused RNC Chairman Michael Steele and his chief of staff of trying to hide the damaging information from him by ordering other staff members not to communicate with Pullen, the Washington Times reported.
Pullen said he discovered $3.3 million in debt from April and $3.8 million in May after earlier filing incorrect reports with the Federal Election Commission, the newspaper said. If his numbers are accurate, the RNC could face a substantial fine for not reporting its obligations in timely fashion. The Republican committee, based in Washington, is the GOP's national arm for fundraising and recruiting candidates -- and word of the money mess comes as it prepares for the heat of a fall campaign for U.S. House and Senate seats.
But RNC Communications Director Doug Heye said it is "standard practice" for political committees to file amended reports in complying with extensive and detailed federal election disclosure laws. Heye denied Chief of Staff Michael Levitt had barred RNC staff from answering Treasurer Pullen's questions.
The RNC, under Chairman Steele, has been plagued with questions about its fundraising practices, most embarrassingly an expense report for credit card charges from a strip club in West Hollywood last February. Separately on Wednesday, the Washington Times said the RNC has retained former Federal Election Commission Chairman Michael E. Toner as an outside counsel, a move suggesting it needs some expert advice in dealing with election officials.
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These are the same republicans who ran up huge deficits. Now they want to extend the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans without paying for them. Their fiscal irresponsibility is really shameless.
July 21 2010 at 5:34 PM Report abuse Permalink +3 rate up rate down ReplyThe Democrats cannot win this year, but the Republicans can lose. This is just the kind of mess the American people will not tolerate from either party. Republicans, it's time for Steele to go unceremoniously and be repleaced by someone of unquestioned stature and character.
July 21 2010 at 4:14 PM Report abuse Permalink -3 rate up rate down ReplyAfteter having been a registered and voteing Republican for OVER 40 years, I have just about had my fill of all of the CORRUPTION and deceits in the RNC ... it is past the time for the REAL Republicans, those middle-of-teh-road Republicans who support reasonable and prudent business regualtions to maintain the integrity and stability of our national economy, to band together to throw the "lotical gangsters" who have gotten control of the party, out of their positions.
These are the THOROUGHLY CORRUPT PEOPLE who helped to orchestrrate the phoney econnomic boom and the defrauding of the Aemrican people to the point of almost bankrupting our nation. The liberal "socialists" Democrats are no real solutin.
It is time to oust and to purge the unrpincipled and amoral people like RNC Chairman Michael Steele out of positionos of power and influence ... and control of our political party. Frankly, I would like to see the indictment and prosecution of these guys for their duplicity in all of the corruptions and frauds. It has reached the point where "It is either THEM or US ... and there is no midddle ground any longer. And teh fines for making intentional misrepresentations and claims, such as with this issue, should be THREE to TEN times the amount that is involved in the non-disclosure. this is nothing less than the CRIMINAL misinformation to both the Federal government, and to the Republicans, and to the American people to perpetuate their corrupt schemes.
We can no longer tolerate the unethical, amoral, and "criminal" actions by "leaders like Michael Steele and his croonies.
I do not believe this story.
July 21 2010 at 3:40 PM Report abuse Permalink -1 rate up rate down ReplyThe establishment professional career politicians of both parties will do anything to stay in power. Steele's position in the New York 23 fiasco shows his true stripes.
And the career pols wonder why we're so cynical about them.
lol Joe Biden just got fined a 1/4 million for some kind of campaign shenanigans.......politicians, ya give em money ....they waste it.
Good thing Micheal isnt the VEEP huh?
It will be interesting what kind of spin the Republicans will put on this one.
July 21 2010 at 3:27 PM Report abuse Permalink +6 rate up rate down ReplyYeah mp, it's more fun watching libs throw each other under the bus. Journolist anyone?
July 21 2010 at 3:38 PM Report abuse Permalink +2 rate up rate down ReplyAll the more reason to fire this incompetent. With this guy running the operations for the Republican Party, is it any wonder that the Democrats have been kicking butt? It is long since time for new blood, fresh leadership and a return to conservative ideals at the top of the Republican Party?
July 21 2010 at 3:26 PM Report abuse Permalink +3 rate up rate down ReplyI may be wrong but wasn't the Strip Club Bru-Ha- Ha one of his staffers and not him personally?
July 21 2010 at 3:21 PM Report abuse Permalink -1 rate up rate down ReplyWhat does he need to do to get fired? And McCain and Palin looking to run against Obama? Is that the best they can come up with?
July 21 2010 at 3:20 PM Report abuse Permalink +4 rate up rate down Reply
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