Feingold has been embroiled in a campaign finance scandal after the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel uncovered that Feingold set up a scam political action committee to pay himself and his former staffers and gave little to campaigns.
“Russ Feingold has become exactly who he spent decades railing against in the Senate – a hypocritical career politician who only cares about himself,” said NRSC Spokeswoman Andrea Bozek. “Feingold spent his entire career championing campaign finance reform and as soon as Wisconsin families rejected him, he started a slush fund for the sole purpose of padding his and his former staffers’ pocket books. Feingold abandoned his principles and Wisconsin families are going to abandon him.”
SCRIPT:
*Once upon a time… Russ Feingold was against money in politics.
“I think there should be no campaign contributions. That’s where I want to be.” He was a leading advocate for campaign finance reform. He could do no wrong.
Feingold: “Look no skeletons.” But Washington changed him. Then losing scarred him. He abandoned his principles…forever
News clip: “Campaign finance records show that the political action committee founded by Russ Feingold spent only 5 percent on federal candidates and political parties.”
Meanwhile Feingold and his cronies got paid over $1.2 million. News clip: “a slush fund to pad his own pockets.”
Greedy. Hypocritical. A Washington Insider.
Russ Feingold is now everything he used to despise. He’s become Two-faced Feingold. He pretends to be fighting for the people, but he’s really just fighting for Russ Feingold. Heads he wins. Tails you lose.*
BACKGROUND:
**Feingold Used Money From PAC And 501(c)(4) To Pay Himself And His Former Senate Staff:
Feingold Was Paid $77,000 By The Two Groups Over Three Years and the The Groups Were Used To Pay Other Feingold Staffers.. (Daniel Bice, “Russ Feingold’s PAC Funded Fees, Salaries For Former Staffers, Himself,” Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, 6/15/15)
Only 5 Percent Of Contributions To The PAC Were Given To Other Candidates.(Daniel Bice, “Russ Feingold’s PAC Funded Fees, Salaries For Former Staffers, Himself,” Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, 6/15/15)
Feingold’s Campaign Refused To Comment On Why So Much Of The PAC’s Expenditures Went To Staff Payments.** (Daniel Bice, “Russ Feingold’s PAC Funded Fees, Salaries For Former Staffers, Himself,” Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, 6/15/15)