“Why Not? That Money Was Given to Me.”
State Representative George Holmes took $79,000 out of his campaign committee and put it in his pocket. Then, when the Winston-Salem Journal asked why, Holmes dug the hole a little deeper. He said, “Why not? It’s legal. That money was given to me.”
Let’s examine his logic. Campaign contributions are not bribes because the money is given to candidates’ reelection committees, not to candidates personally. Otherwise, someone might look at the $79,000 Holmes just put in his pocket and wonder if the donor had an ulterior motive.
On top of that, Holmes’ transfers were only legal by an eyelash. He paid himself the last $33,000 just days before a new state law would have made pocketing it illegal.
This also says a lot about the broader picture when it comes to the scandals in the State Legislature. Last summer, the House banned its members accepting gifts from lobbyists of more than $1,000. After they did that Democratic leaders boasted they’d taken a big step to clean up corruption. But the truth turned out to be, three months later, one of its members put $79,000 in cold hard cash (much of it, in all probability, given by lobbyists) in his pocket. That’s what politicians in
To comment, send us an email to comment@talkingaboutpolitics.com.
“Why Not? That Money Was Given to Me.”
State Representative George Holmes took $79,000 out of his campaign committee and put it in his pocket. Then, when the Winston-Salem Journal asked why, Holmes dug the hole a little deeper. He said, “Why not? It’s legal. That money was given to me.”
Let’s examine his logic. Campaign contributions are not bribes because the money is given to candidates’ reelection committees, not to candidates personally. Otherwise, someone might look at the $79,000 Holmes just put in his pocket and wonder if the donor had an ulterior motive.
On top of that, Holmes’ transfers were only legal by an eyelash. He paid himself the last $33,000 just days before a new state law would have made pocketing it illegal.
This also says a lot about the broader picture when it comes to the scandals in the State Legislature. Last summer, the House banned its members accepting gifts from lobbyists of more than $1,000. After they did that Democratic leaders boasted they’d taken a big step to clean up corruption. But the truth turned out to be, three months later, one of its members put $79,000 in cold hard cash (much of it, in all probability, given by lobbyists) in his pocket. That’s what politicians in
To comment, send us an email to comment@talkingaboutpolitics.com.