Kansas City Star: Watchdog complaint alleges Kobach fundraising email violated federal law

Kansas City Star: Watchdog complaint alleges Kobach fundraising email violated federal law

“One way or the other Kris Kobach appears to have violated federal campaign finance laws through this solicitation for contributions to his U.S. Senate campaign,” Paul S. Ryan, Common Cause vice president for policy and litigation, said in a statement.

A government oversight group is asking the Department of Justice to investigate whether Republican Kris Kobach’s Senate campaign violated federal law by using an email list maintained by the nonprofit where Kobach serves as general counsel.

Kobach emailed supporters of the nonprofit We Build the Wall asking for contributions to his campaign for a Senate seat in Kansas. The email provided links to the campaign’s official fundraising page and asked for “a financial contribution of $50, $100, $250, $500, or any amount up to the maximum of $2,800 per individual.”

On Friday, Washington-based watchdog group Common Cause filed a complaint with the Department of Justice. The group alleges it has reason to believe Kobach and We Build the Wall violated federal campaign law.

“One way or the other Kris Kobach appears to have violated federal campaign finance laws through this solicitation for contributions to his U.S. Senate campaign,” Paul S. Ryan, Common Cause vice president for policy and litigation, said in a statement. …

The Kobach campaign in a statement on Friday night called Common Cause a “radical leftist organization” and said its complaint was baseless.

“This attack by Common Cause also includes a frivolous letter to the Department of Justice, asking the Department of Justice to launch a pointless investigation. This is also typical of Common Cause tactics and it is intended to cause distraction wherever conservative Republicans are leading in important political campaigns,” the statement said.