A New York-based progressive think tank has asked a super PAC with multiple addresses to remove its website from an ad campaign supporting the Republican challenger in the U.S. Senate race in Rhode Island. The Roosevelt Institute, which has no affiliation with the super PAC, is taking action to stop the unauthorized use of its URL. The super PAC, Roosevelt Society Action, has committed over $25,000 in TV ads attacking the Democratic incumbent, Sheldon Whitehouse, as he seeks a fourth term. The group's origins and motives remain obscure, puzzling political observers in the solidly blue state.

Mysterious Funds and Shadowy Connections Fuel Unusual Senate Race Interference

Sudden Super PAC Presence Raises Eyebrows

The Roosevelt Institute, a progressive economic think tank, has requested that the Roosevelt Society Action super PAC remove its website from the group's ad campaign supporting Republican Patricia Morgan's challenge to Democratic U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. The institute, which has a project called the Roosevelt Society but is not affiliated with the super PAC, was unaware of the use of its URL and is taking immediate action to stop it.The Roosevelt Society Action super PAC has addresses in Wisconsin and Alabama, with an Alabama-based treasurer listed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC). The group has committed over $25,000 in TV ads attacking Whitehouse, who is seeking a fourth term in the Senate. This sudden interest in a U.S. Senate race in the solidly Democratic state of Rhode Island has left political observers scratching their heads.

Obscure Origins and Questionable Connections

The Roosevelt Society Action super PAC was founded in September and has already spent over $102,000 on pro-Morgan mailers and TV ads. The group's treasurer, Kayla Glaze, is an Alabama woman tied to a Washington D.C. firm, Crosby Ottenhoff Group, where she has worked as a certified public accountant since 2019. Glaze is listed as the treasurer of more than 130 political action committees across the nation, most of which support Republican causes.The super PAC's third-quarter FEC filing lists a $200,000 contribution on September 17 from an address in Hudson, Wisconsin, associated with Thomas Datwyler, a consultant who has been involved with numerous Republican candidates and political committees. Datwyler has faced allegations of wire fraud and is under investigation for alleged campaign finance violations in other states.Despite these connections, Datwyler insists he is not behind the Roosevelt Society Action super PAC, and the group's primary funder is a couple from Florida, whose identity he refused to disclose. The super PAC's sudden interest in the Rhode Island Senate race and its obscure origins have raised suspicions among political observers.

Targeting Sports Fans and Seeking to Influence Tight Races

The Roosevelt Society Action super PAC has committed $25,000 toward television ads during NFL and college football games, as well as slots during the first four games of the World Series. This strategy of targeting sports fans is unusual for a super PAC in a Senate race in a solidly Democratic state like Rhode Island.One possible explanation for the super PAC's focus on Rhode Island is that right-leaning groups may want to force Whitehouse to spend more money on his own race, rather than transferring funds to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee to support tighter elections elsewhere, such as the race between Montana Democratic Senator Jon Tester and his Republican challenger, Tim Sheehy."This could be an unofficially coordinated action," said Matthew Ulricksen, an associate professor of political science at the Community College of Rhode Island. "Never underestimate the banality or drollness of rich Americans to think that they can use their money to influence something."

Mysterious Footage and Lack of Coordination

The Roosevelt Society Action ad features a montage of professionally-filmed clips of Republican challenger Patricia Morgan, including her strolling the white marble steps of the Rhode Island State House, working at her office desk, and meeting with constituents. However, the origin of this footage is unclear, as it does not appear to have been sourced from any of Morgan's social media pages or the Rhode Island House Minority Office.Morgan confirmed that the video clips are "older footage" from her time in the State House, but she was unaware of how the Roosevelt Society obtained it. FEC rules prohibit campaigns from directly coordinating with super PACs, though there is some gray area on what can be done, such as candidates uploading b-roll footage to their YouTube channels for PACs to use.The mysterious nature of the super PAC's activities and the lack of coordination with the Morgan campaign have further fueled the sense of confusion and suspicion surrounding the group's involvement in the Rhode Island Senate race.

In a startling revelation, the real estate behemoth that wields significant influence in Santa Clara politics has been accused of failing to report over $40,000 in campaign contributions. This apparent violation of the city's dark money ordinance has raised eyebrows and sparked concerns about the integrity of the political process.

Exposing the Discrepancy: Related Companies' Unreported Spending

Unreported Contributions and Questionable Spending

According to financial reports, the Related Companies, a prominent real estate developer, has reported $49,000 in contributions to its independent expenditure committee. However, the company has reportedly spent $90,000, a discrepancy that seems to violate the city's dark money ordinance. While this amount may pale in comparison to the spending by the 49ers, the lag in reporting raises serious questions about the company's compliance with local regulations.

Potential Violations and Unanswered Questions

California law mandates that committees report contributions of $1,000 or more within 24 hours of receipt. However, the disclosure forms show that Related Companies reported spending between two and 15 days after receiving the funds. This apparent delay in reporting has led to concerns about the company's adherence to the city's dark money ordinance.

Conflicting Timelines and Lack of Transparency

Related Companies filed its financial forms on October 15, but the company's own records indicate that it had sent mailers for each candidate on September 30 and October 7, as well as posted online ads on October 4. This discrepancy between the reported spending and the actual timeline of activities raises further questions about the company's transparency and compliance with local regulations.

Escalating Spending and Unanswered Inquiries

While Related Companies' initial contribution of $49,000 in late September went towards supporting various city council candidates, the company's spending has continued to trend upwards, surpassing its initial contribution. However, the source of this additional funding remains unclear, as inquiries to the city clerk's office and the company's treasurer have gone unanswered.

Potential Consequences and Unanswered Questions

The city's dark money ordinance stipulates that a violation is considered a misdemeanor, but it does not specify whether the city would fine the company or who would be responsible for paying the fine. Additionally, the ordinance states that a resident can pursue civil action for damages, including attorneys' fees, but the implications of this provision remain uncertain.

Broader Implications and Unanswered Concerns

The failure to properly disclose spending not only constitutes a criminal offense but also has broader implications for the developer. According to the city ordinance, if Related Companies is found to have violated the regulations, it could jeopardize its contracts for the Related Santa Clara project. However, the city's response and the potential consequences for the company remain unclear.

Unanswered Inquiries and Ongoing Investigations

Attempts to obtain further information from the city clerk's office and the company's treasurer regarding the application of the dark money ordinance and any planned penalties have so far gone unanswered. The lack of transparency and the absence of a clear response from the authorities have only added to the growing concerns surrounding this issue.

Candidate Accountability and Potential Conflicts of Interest

The city's dark money ordinance also stipulates that candidates who have benefited from the undisclosed spending could be barred from voting on matters in which Related Companies has a financial interest. However, the candidates supported by the company's spending have signed an ethics pledge, raising questions about their response and potential conflicts of interest.

Ongoing Investigations and the Need for Transparency

As the investigation into Related Companies' alleged violations continues, the need for transparency and accountability in the city's political landscape has become increasingly apparent. The outcome of this case will have far-reaching implications for the integrity of the political process and the public's trust in the local government.