On Saturday the 6th District Committee held their first official meeting with their new Chairman, Jennifer M. Brown. By the end of that meeting Ms. Brown learned that the politics of personal destruction never pay off in the end, especially when the people you attempt to destroy are the very ones you are supposed to be leading.
Just days before the 6th District Convention in May, two supporters of Jennifer Brown (Anne Seaton and Georgia Alvis-Long) filed FEC complaints against then 6th District Chairman, Scott Sayre, and the 6th District Committee alleging various campaign finance allegations. These complaints were filed so they could be used by Jennifer Brown’s campaign and their constant allegations of corruption against the committee. They were also filed to hamstring the committee in case Scott Sayre won re-election. Once the convention was over and Jennifer Brown had won many people, including myself, urged that those complaints be withdrawn. In a post convention wrap-up I wrote the following:
It was reported that two last minute FEC complaints were filed before the convention. One of them is focused on the 6th District Committee and it’s campaign finance reports. While intended to be used against Scott Sayre, the fallout of this complaint will actually land on the 6th District and its new Chairman, Jennifer Brown.
“The second complaint is actually much worse. It seeks to have Sayre Enterprises put under review by the Inspector General’s of the GSA and the Defense Department, to have its Federal contracts revoked, and be barred from bidding on new ones. This would most likely result in Sayre Enterprises going out of business and all of its employees on the unemployment line. What was the crime committed by Mr. Sayre to deserve this potential punishment? He allowed the 6th District Committee to meet in one of his conference rooms for free.
Whether these complaints were actually filed or whether they were just last minute stunts is yet to be determined. For the sake of the 6th District let us hope that they were never filed, or if they were that they are able to be withdrawn, especially since Mr. Sayre could most likely remedy the threat to his company by submitting a large bill to the 6th District Committee for unpaid rent, and the committee would have that much less money to help Ben Cline’s election efforts.”
Unfortunately neither complaint was withdrawn and the 6th District Committee, now led by Jennifer Brown, must defend itself against the negative tactics of the Brown campaign, and they did exactly that. On Saturday night a motion was made to retain the Bopp Law Firm as legal counsel to represent “the 6th District Committee, its current and previous Treasurers and Secretaries and its previous Chairman, from the accusations made in complaints to the Federal Election Commission.” Up to $30,000 was approved to pay the legal fees for this representation, which makes up the bulk of the committee’s budget.
What is surprising about this situation is not the hiring of legal counsel. This was the most fiscally and legally responsible thing the committee could do. When faced with a legal complaint, you hire a lawyer. No, what is truly surprising is the vehement opposition to this move by Jennifer Brown and her supporters. After the meeting Jennifer Brown posted this note on Facebook:
“In order to maintain my promise of honesty and transparency as Chair of the 6th District, I would like to report that the following individuals voted to unnecessarily appropriate $30,000 of your money to pay for an attorney in Terre Haute, IN, without any research into other firms, and without providing a CV to the Committee, in order to represent Cynthia Dunbar, (whom the firm has been representing for several months), Scott Sayre, Hud McWilliams and the 6th District Committee with regards to the three FEC complaints, validly filed by fellow 6th District Republicans:
This is money that should be used for campaign activities to support our Congressional and Senatorial candidates. These are the same individuals that promised you fiscal responsibility. Please feel free to hold them accountable, as it is your money.”
Let’s walk through the problems with this statement one by one:
- The claim that spending this money was “unnecessary” is completely ludicrous. Does Jennifer Brown expect an unpaid volunteer with no legal experience to represent the Committee in an official legal complaint? Would she represent herself in court?
- The statement that the committee hired “an attorney in Terre Haute, IN” and that there was no resume provided is a purposeful attempt to hide the fact that the committee hired the best election law attorney in the country. James Bopp, Jr. is the attorney who won the Citizens United case before the Supreme Court. You aren’t going to get better representation than him for an election law issue.
- The claim that this money will be used to represent Cynthia Dunbar is patently false and a blatant attempt by Jennifer Brown to try and shift the blame for this situation away from herself and her “scorched earth” campaign strategy. The motion to retain legal counsel states explicitly that “funds shall be expended pursuant to this motion in defense of the 6th District Committee, its current and previous Treasurers and Secretaries and its previous Chairman, and for no other persons.” That means Cynthia Dunbar is not covered by these funds. Jennifer Brown knows this and chose to blatantly lie to people.
So much for honesty and transparency.
Jennifer was not the only one to take to the internet to express her displeasure with the 6th District Committee doing the right thing. Newly elected 6th District Central Regional Vice Chairman, Craig Storrs, condemns his fellow committee members for taking prudent action and confidently declares this move is premature, since the FEC is, in his words, “merely requesting information” at this stage. I suppose in Craig’s mind it is also premature for President Trump to have retained a cadre of lawyers to deal with special counsel Mueller’s investigation since he is “merely requesting information” at this point.
What Jennifer Brown and Craig Storrs don’t seem to understand is that any adverse ruling will not be levied against merely the Treasurer of the Committee or the Chairman. The 6th District Committee ITSELF is financially liable. If any of these complaints goes against them, the 6th District will be levied with substantial fines that will most likely be far more than the $30,000 the committee voted to spend to defend itself. Not only that, but the Committee could then be put under a microscope and subject to additional reporting requirements and audits that can last for years.
Jennifer and Craig may be more than happy to let Scott Sayre and the committee Treasurer personally twist in the wind, but as members of the committee they have a responsibility to act in the best interest of the committee, and that means mounting a proper legal defense to these complaints. If they are unable to move past their own political grudges and do what is best for the 6th District committee they should resign their positions.
This situation is the perfect example of why you don’t go negative in an intra-party contest. Day after day Jennifer Brown and her supporters called members of the 6th District Committee corrupt. Day after day they smeared the reputations of fellow Republicans simply because they supported a different candidate for Chairman and for Congress. Now that the campaign is over these “win at any cost” campaign tactics have made it nearly impossible to bring the party back together again.
Jennifer Brown and her campaign are responsible for the FEC complaints filed against the 6th District committee. For her to now complain about the committee doing the fiscally and legally prudent thing by retaining legal counsel demonstrates both a naivete towards Federal Election Laws and a lack of competent leadership skills, which is a dangerous combination in a newly elected Chairman of a Federal Legislative District Committee.
If Jennifer Brown wants to avoid spending committee funds to pay lawyers to defend against these FEC complaints she should ask her supporters to withdraw those complaints. If she wants to be an effective District Chairman for the next two years, she needs to realize that the campaign for Chairman is over and to stop treating members of the committee she now leads as the enemy. If she’s not careful, her only legacy will be to cost Ben Cline a seat in Congress and put the Speaker’s gavel back in Nancy Pelosi’s hand.
32 comments
Dear people of the 6th. Do not pay attention to this medium, nor pay attention to their ideas.
Would you believe anyone that violates the law telling you anything? would you believe any opinion of someone that evades taxes? If you do, you are an moron. But, if you have a brain and don’t believe anyone that lies to you or evades taxes, please read:
1. This corporation and it’s owners have no skin on the issues of the 6th; they are far away at Stafford VA (that is at the other side of the State, in the shores). And, they registered the business only to ignore compliance with the law since 2013. They are in violation of the law since 2013.
2. Their corporation is operating in violation of the law, since they have failed to update their files with the government. If the business is not registered as active with the State Corporate Commission it means it is very likely they are not paying taxes. Income taxes. Property taxes. And any other tax. Because the city treasurer and Commissioner on Revenue do not know they are still operating, since they failed to file their Corporate registration documents. They are at 4 Caval Cade Ln, Stafford VA.
3. The Commissioner on Revenue there confirms that, this corporation, is not show to have paid taxes in Stafford; he checked by name. Nice guy.
So please be wary of paying attention on “it is the best idea to pay for the attorney for those that violate the law” from someone that is violating the law. Even a criminal knows not to listen to other criminals when they have been caught; a good criminal doesn’t get caught.
On a personal note: how do you like them “nothing sandwich”? *flips the bird*
The FEC guidebook for Political Party Committees is 178 pages of fine print, and the guide for Corporations and Labor Organizations is 245. Each cautions that it is incomplete and the reader should also consult the statute, regulations, rulings, and advisory opinions. Many of the requirements are vague, depending on an “all the factors” test that makes results dependent on FEC whimsy. No one can possibly be certain that they are in compliance.
The FEC is, in sum, another Deep State Monster foisted on us by a political class that wants to ensure that no one except itself can participate in the process. Brown and her friends dug out some trivial provisions and set the machine in motion, and now she objects because her targets must indeed take the matter seriously. I think she must be a mole for the Democrats because I can see no other explanation for this bizarre attack on her own party.
It was brought up at this meeting that RPV would have offered free council, including the option of going outside itself to obtain specialized council.
Therefore holding the district hostage by still locking up the vast majority of our money seems to be politically motivated and unnecessarily harmful to candidates Corey Stewart and Ben Cline.
Quo Bono? Who benefits by all this filing of complaint? It would appear to me that those who benefit the most are the establishment forces which have been for decades in the business of selling Americans down the river. And there seems to be a lot of tarnish on the shouts of corruption coming with those who are complainants. And by perception, might the complainants by their actions so far taken be doing a wrong to themselves in their longer term credibility?
To Mick Staton: Well thought out and well written!
Not the grassroots of the 6th who worked and donated to bake the bread.
The people who benefit are those who voted themselves legal counsel with party money.
I don’t trust the self-interested elites who thought it ok to vote themselves the party treasury,
Let’s see the complaints and charges.
Charges and complaints are an endless litany … and an endless debate which nobody wins. It is more a matter of where the interests lie as to gaining a lion’s share over the balance of power. The Machine over the last many few years has lost considerable control over the 6th District Franchise … and the Machine must put down any and all obstacles to a continued milking of the 6th District electorate. This is what this is all about. This is a fight for absolute control and dominance.
I also say that when in a war for winner take all, one ought to mobilize any and all resources available. The Party Machine Elites never demur at whatever it takes to win at all costs, not ever. And equally, the Forces of Resistance must never demur at mobilizing any resource available and at their ready hand.
This is not Boy Scouts about which we are talking (whatever they pathetically may be these days!).
Mick is clearly a sore loser.
It is too bad that the members of the 6th district are more concerned about Dunbar and the former chairman than they are about electing Republican Ben Cline. Why is that?
It makes more sense when you perceive it as a faction instead of a few individuals.
This is exactly the kind of asinine answer I would expect from an anonymous Jennifer Brown supporter.
Every single person on the 6th District Committee wants to elect Ben Cline. They would like to spend the money they raised from the convention on GOTV efforts for the district, but they can’t because Jennifer Brown and her campaign thinks Scott Sayre should be forced out of business because he allowed the Committee to meet in his offices without paying rent. Jennifer Brown and her campaign claims the committee is not properly filing its receipts even though the law allows unlimited transfers between state, district, and local party committees.
So the committee (not individuals, the COMMITTEE) has been named as performing illegal activities, and it has to defend itself, and instead of blaming the person responsible (Jennifer Brown), you blame the victim of the attack.
By claiming this is being done to hurt Ben Cline you are just driving the wedge in further.
Great article. We wonder what the end game of Jennifer and her supporters is. In the follow the money scenario she would want it freed up because it is expensive to be a volunteer and as far as we know she does not have a steady job. She could see the District funds as an offset to her gas money and office supplies etc. According to Committee records this is the highest balance they have had in recent years so it is an attractive resource. But we don’t know because she does not provide background information or answers. On the other hand this infighting is pointless and divisive and crazy. Thank you for the clear outline of this situation.
So in order to stop the new chairman from looting the treasury with expense reimbursements, the committee votes to give the entire treasury to the same Indiana lawyer already chosen by folks for some reason?
I don’t support Jennifer Brown. I never met her and don’t live in the district.
Spending almost every last cent the district has to defend the illegal actions of the previous chairman and hiring an attorney that is also representing Dunbar, instead of using those finite resources to elect the GOP nominee in the general election, shows that the committee doesn’t care about the nominee’s election.
And yes, they can spend every last dollar on GOTV and other electioneering because A) the VAGOP has insurance that will cover the illegal actions of the former chairman and even the committee and B) the donations were given to elect Republicans, not to be used for legal defense for illegal actions.
Also, can you explain why the committee just happened to chose the same attorney that Dunbar is using? Why was there no discussion on using another attorney?
So it’s just using a meeting room for the committee? Just receipts not properly filed? Hardly seems like it requires the out of state FEC attorney requiring the entire treasury of the 6th on retainer… (unless this is a negotiating tactic?) or is it more convenient if this is the same firm used by another?
Maybe it’s that Ben Cline is not what he seems to be?
Just a thought.
The nominee?
Or the complaints were filed because they had merit.
What were the complaints?
What did the RPV recommend?
What information was requested?
It seems to me that this ‘fast and furious’ action of the committee reeks just as much as the charges made against it.
Hey, is this the same law firm being used for and/or recommended by Cynthia “No Other Persons” Dunbar?
Mr Staton, you are an idiot, and promoter of crime. I’ll explain, so you are quite clear of why such words.
1. When someone breaks the law you report it. We are not “ghetto”, hiding the crimes of others. Well, most Republicans aren’t. You, on the other hand, are demanding people to not report crimes. You are a disgrace to America. It is that attitude the one that allows corruption.
2. Only an idiot would imply that, even though illegal acts were done by the priors, the party should pay their defense. The same idiots that voted for such idea are all “Hillary” democrats.
Your, and their reasoning, is that because they were volunteers breaking the law, the organization they volunteered at must pay.
Well, I’m very glad your idiotic self doesn’t volunteer with any children. Because, imagine: a volunteer at a kids facility is accused of sexually molesting kids there. The kids facility will pay his lawyer. That is your reasoning.
Applied to our thing here: volunteers at the party violated the law by using money inappropriately, even though they knew it was wrong. Same as the volunteer at the kids-organization touching the kids private parts, even though they knew it was wrong.
Yet here you are. Attacking Jennifer for reporting the wrongs, not the fools “touching innapropiately”. You might have a dad you work for, but your mind is that of a spoiled brat. A Hillary.
Hi Roger! You really ought to lay off the booze so you’ll be sober at 530 in the morning.
We’re worried about you. Sort of.
BTW, people get to criticize your “consort,” especially with the facts. She ran for chair and got elected. She’s a big girl and ought to be able to defend herself. She’s not going to be able to hide from the facts for two years. She might want to resign, delete her accounts, and leave Virginia to beat the rush when all the other RINO douchenozzles get unmasked.
Cheers!
🙂
It’s not Roger, but that was a good guess. It is Ed Justo.
You know, for a second time you bring me up in an attempt to smear my name. Had you checked, you would notice the email account is not mine. But, alas, you as the Martin fool, which I suspect are in the same bed, need to use the resources you have properly.
I ask you to cease and desist from bringing me to your pathetic little pitty party you call a blog, connecting me to commentary that is not mine. That is called putting someone in a false light, and is cause for litigation.
I think your “profile” says you are the son of a politician (and I can see him face-palming upon reading your responses); you should have learned from him when to keep your tongue in that mouth of yours. And try not to bite it, you might die of poisoning.
Folks! What is missing here? I have to wonder about some who writes in truncated, fragmented, broken sentences with an absence of smooth, coherent linkage? I have to pause and wonder? Is the manner of writing a mirror of the mind?
And if Jennifer Brown is linked to this individual, all the more cause for wonder?
You should be grateful for the Nostradamus of the 6th!
Upon reevaluation of factors unconsidered, I conclude that you are right! The ability of the Nostradamus of the 6th to see presciently into the predawn of Mankind is indeed a wonder ripe for gratitude.
When you read Big Ed in quatrains, it’s better in a lot of ways, like teepees.
Hi, Ed. I noticed the FEC website has no records whatsoever concerning your candidacy for Congress. There’s no statement of candidacy, no statement of organization for a campaign committee, and no record of the $5,000 you paid to the 6th District committee to be a candidate. Based on your statement above I guess that makes you a criminal, and because we do not “hide the crimes of others” someone should probably file an FEC complaint against you.
Have a nice day.
Who’s Ed? And why are you calling me his name? Can’t you read? It’s Rob not Ed
Seems they confused you for me. I’m sorry you were dragged into their pathetic fight with me for running for office; their fight is just because they are so deep in Dunbar’s derriere that they can find polyps. Cheers
I do not know who you are, and judging by the few words I read from your so-called article, you clearly are not as intellectual as you claim to be, much less superior. If you have issues with any FEC violations, remit them to them. I am not here to explain to you how my campaign was self-funded because you chose to put your “gringolas” and just focus on the commentary on this sad attempt at a newspaper.
As to confusing me with the Massoud Rob guy, with your “masters” on this site: did you even notice that he has a different email? are you people that dumb you cannot check an email before typing accusations? is that why every article in this sad blog is equivalent to used toilet paper?
Cant even check the email. What a genius.
You must refrain from calling our posters names. This is your second warning. Three strikes, you’re out.
Are you two more moronic than suspected? Can’t you read the name? The email? Who tf is Ed?
Sorry again. These pro-Dunbar people are at the verge of mental illness over me. Im surprised they have not stated their dislike more publicly instead of dragging me to their sad blog.
Miss. You can keep your mediocre, half-wit, pro-socialism, tea bagger useless blog.
But do me a favor and, as a MINIMUM learn to use your own damn software. That Massoud guy is not me, and you should know because the account is not my email. Alas, all of you “new cis-gender-fluid” Republicans (with names as “constitutional conservative”, or “tea party liberal”) are no better than those diluting gender into ridiculous names.
Im deleting the account. But be wary: this medium is no bastion for anything but the 332 hits it gets when it publishes a commentary. And of those 332, most are from “name-pings” searching words to notify me when you mention my name. Reason why I found out y’all are spewing the vile poop you have become known for.
I would personally insult you, but I would not know how to.