Subject: Re: FW: FLAG: NEWS: Politico Exposes Clinton Campaign ‘Money-Laundering’ Scheme
From: Josh Schwerin <[email-masked]>
To: "Miranda, Luis" <[email-masked]>
Cc: "Paustenbach, Mark" <[email-masked]>, Zac Petkanas <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 5 May 2016 13:53:50 -0400

Hey,
When do you think you'll have a draft of this?

On Wed, May 4, 2016 at 8:03 PM, Josh Schwerin <[email-masked]>
wrote:

> Hey,
> Please send a draft and we'll take a look.
>
> Thanks,
> Josh
>
> On Wed, May 4, 2016 at 7:35 PM, Miranda, Luis <[email-masked]> wrote:
>
>> Hey Josh, since the Sanders camp keeps pushing stories about the money
>> laundering, we’re prepping a Medium post from either our CFO or our CEO we
>> want to run by you. It will sharply state that the criticisms are wrong,
>> etc.. basically our talking points in a Medium post format with some extra
>> detail. Since it’s your HVF we want to make sure you guys are good with it,
>> and with the push back. We’ll send you the draft once it’s ready, but
>> wanted to put it on your radar.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>  <http://www.democrats.org/>*Luis Miranda, *Communications
>> Director
>>
>> *Democratic National Committee*
>>
>> 202-863-8148 – [email-masked] - @MiraLuisDC
>> <https://www.twitter.com/MiraLuisDC>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* Josh Schwerin [mailto:[email-masked]]
>> *Sent:* Monday, May 02, 2016 8:35 PM
>>
>> *To:* Miranda, Luis
>> *Cc:* Zac Petkanas; Paustenbach, Mark
>> *Subject:* Re: FW: FLAG: NEWS: Politico Exposes Clinton Campaign
>> ‘Money-Laundering’ Scheme
>>
>>
>>
>> I'm speaking with the editor tomorrow before they post anything
>>
>>
>>
>> On Mon, May 2, 2016 at 8:05 PM, Josh Schwerin <
>> [email-masked]> wrote:
>>
>> He seems to think the DNC has nothing to do with electing down ballot
>> Dems which is just crazy
>>
>>
>>
>> On Mon, May 2, 2016 at 8:05 PM, Miranda, Luis <[email-masked]> wrote:
>>
>> Yeah, I spent about half hour on the phone with Gene pushing back on the
>> Politico story. He wants a copy of the agreement with the state parties. I
>> referred him to you guys on all things related to how the HVF is
>> administered. He’s hung up on the notion that if a state party chair wants
>> to keep some of that money they don’t get to decide, so the notion that
>> it’s part of the agreement is why he’s looking for that.
>>
>>
>>
>> I basically made all the points below.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> <http://www.democrats.org/> <http://www.democrats.org/>
>> <http://www.democrats.org/>*Luis Miranda, *Communications Director
>>
>> *Democratic National Committee*
>>
>> 202-863-8148 – [email-masked] - @MiraLuisDC
>> <https://www.twitter.com/MiraLuisDC>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* Josh Schwerin [mailto:[email-masked]]
>> *Sent:* Monday, May 02, 2016 8:01 PM
>> *To:* Miranda, Luis
>> *Cc:* Zac Petkanas; Paustenbach, Mark
>>
>>
>> *Subject:* Re: FW: FLAG: NEWS: Politico Exposes Clinton Campaign
>> ‘Money-Laundering’ Scheme
>>
>>
>>
>> Have heard from Politifact about this?
>>
>>
>>
>> On Mon, May 2, 2016 at 5:02 PM, Josh Schwerin <
>> [email-masked]> wrote:
>>
>> this is great
>>
>>
>>
>> On Mon, May 2, 2016 at 5:00 PM, Miranda, Luis <[email-masked]> wrote:
>>
>> Here’s our updated guidance and the quote I’m using:
>>
>>
>>
>> On the record:
>>
>>
>>
>> On the Record:
>>
>> “The suggestion there’s anything unusual about our joint victory funds
>> has no basis in the law or reality, as recognized by numerous independent
>> experts that have looked at this. The fact is both campaigns signed on to
>> similar agreements. While only one campaign is currently using their joint
>> victory fund we encourage both of our campaigns to identify opportunities
>> to support the national and state Democratic parties *now* so that we
>> can continue to build the infrastructure to help elect Democrats up and
>> down the ballot in November.” – DNC Communications Director
>>
>> On Background:
>>
>> ·         The money raised by the joint victory funds, even when the
>> money goes to the DNC, *still helps state parties*.* The funds help
>> strengthen, for example, our national voter file and communications,
>> research and digital support for state parties and down ballot candidates.
>> That includes training across a variety of areas, for example, and access
>> to media monitoring and rapid response support. This is helping the Party
>> right NOW build the infrastructure we need for the general election.*
>>
>> ·         Politico got it wrong. Their claim that state parties only get
>> to keep 1 percent of all the money being raised is incorrect and comparing
>> apples and oranges. They reference the total amount of money that has been
>> raised, but of that, many millions have been raised for state parties and
>> just haven’t been distributed to them yet (nor has it gone to the DNC or
>> anywhere else). Because this is money for the general election, and
>> coordinated campaigns are just now starting to be built at state parties,
>> it is perfectly understandable that not all of the HVF money owed to state
>> parties would have been distributed yet.
>>
>> ·         We had JFA’ s with the Obama campaigns in 2008 and 2012, and
>> the Kerry campaign in 2004. And while the funds are going to the DNC right
>> now to build tools and capacity for the general election, there will be a
>> point when the funds stay in the states to fund coordinated campaigns that
>> are now beginning to get organized.
>>
>> ·         That’s why experts have agreed there’s nothing unusual about
>> the victory funds. Rick Hasen, an influential academic on campaign finance,
>> posted an analysis on the Election Law Blog that addressed this issue.
>> Hasen states in the article that “it is hard to see what provision of the
>> law” is at issue. As the blog points out, “legally” the criticism of the
>> fund “seems weak.”   http://electionlawblog.org/?p=81996
>> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__electionlawblog.org_-3Fp-3D81996&d=CwMFAg&c=XRWvQHnpdBDRh-yzrHjqLpXuHNC_9nanQc6pPG_SpT0&r=ztfeb3sYMwYJc4m6DQzcZ1EDxKmQmE8pe5TrXm4gdCU&m=xosCmCfJlZ5AfIscnIGFPlKd_WqB4JHLY4vSLilK-IE&s=IDZd2_ULQhvZFm33gwH-mCSwcJMtMpjuFI5_FJQQvqk&e=>
>>
>>
>>
>> ·         We welcome any effort by our candidates to help raise money
>> for the DNC and state parties.
>>
>>
>>
>> ·         Similar agreements were set up with both the Clinton campaign
>> and the Sanders campaign early in the cycle, precisely because of the
>> urgency to build a strong national infrastructure *now* that will help
>> elect Democrats up and down the ballot in November. The Sanders campaign
>> has not used theirs.
>>
>> ·         These arrangements are not new or unusual. Similar joint
>> fundraising committees were established with our Democratic candidate in
>> both 2008 and 2012. And again, both campaigns have signed on and have the
>> option of using joint victory funds.
>>
>> ·         And let’s be clear, neither the DNC nor state parties are
>> subsidizing fundraising through these committees for either campaign. For
>> whatever each campaign raises under the agreement that then goes to their
>> campaign, that campaign pays a directly proportional amount for the cost of
>> that fundraising.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> <http://www.democrats.org/> <http://www.democrats.org/>
>> <http://www.democrats.org/>*Luis Miranda, *Communications Director
>>
>> *Democratic National Committee*
>>
>> 202-863-8148 – [email-masked] - @MiraLuisDC
>> <https://www.twitter.com/MiraLuisDC>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* Zac Petkanas [mailto:[email-masked]]
>> *Sent:* Monday, May 02, 2016 4:59 PM
>> *To:* Miranda, Luis; Josh Schwerin
>> *Cc:* Paustenbach, Mark
>> *Subject:* Re: FW: FLAG: NEWS: Politico Exposes Clinton Campaign
>> ‘Money-Laundering’ Scheme
>>
>>
>>
>> Wow. This slipped through my email. Looping Josh, who is handling on our
>> end.
>>
>>
>>
>> On Mon, May 2, 2016 at 1:53 PM, Miranda, Luis <[email-masked]> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Christina and Zac. It was great to see you both this weekend. I’m sure
>> you already saw the Sanders release calling the HVF money laundering and
>> want to make sure we’re in touch. How are you guys responding? We’re going
>> to focus on our talking points (see below):
>>
>>
>>
>> ·         We welcome any effort by our candidates to help raise money
>> for the DNC and state parties.
>>
>> ·         Similar agreements were set up with both the Clinton campaign
>> and the Sanders campaign early in the cycle, precisely because of the
>> urgency to build a strong national infrastructure *now* that will help
>> elect Democrats up and down the ballot in November. The Sanders campaign
>> has not used theirs.
>>
>> ·         *It’s important to note, the funds that the DNC and state
>> parties get through the joint victory funds help strengthen, for example,
>> our national voter file and communications, research and digital support
>> for state parties and down ballot candidates. That includes training across
>> a variety of areas, for example, and access to media monitoring and rapid
>> response support. This is helping us NOW to build infrastructure for the
>> general election.*
>>
>> These arrangements are not new or unusual. Similar joint fundraising
>> committees were established with our Democratic candidate in both 2008 and
>> 2012. And again, both campaigns have signed on and have the option of using
>> joint victory funds.
>>
>> And let’s be clear, neither the DNC nor state parties are subsidizing
>> fundraising through these committees for either campaign. For whatever each
>> campaign raises under the agreement that then goes to their campaign, that
>> campaign pays a directly proportional amount for the cost of that
>> fundraising.
>>
>> ·         Rick Hasen, an influential academic on campaign finance,
>> posted an analysis on the Election Law Blog that addressed this issue.
>> Hasen states in the article that “it is hard to see what provision of the
>> law” is at issue. As the blog points out, “legally” the criticism of the
>> fund “seems weak.”   http://electionlawblog.org/?p=81996
>> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__electionlawblog.org_-3Fp-3D81996&d=CwMFAg&c=XRWvQHnpdBDRh-yzrHjqLpXuHNC_9nanQc6pPG_SpT0&r=ztfeb3sYMwYJc4m6DQzcZ1EDxKmQmE8pe5TrXm4gdCU&m=xosCmCfJlZ5AfIscnIGFPlKd_WqB4JHLY4vSLilK-IE&s=IDZd2_ULQhvZFm33gwH-mCSwcJMtMpjuFI5_FJQQvqk&e=>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* Brinster, Jeremy
>> *Sent:* Monday, May 02, 2016 12:09 PM
>> *To:* Comm_D
>> *Subject:* FLAG: NEWS: Politico Exposes Clinton Campaign
>> ‘Money-Laundering’ Scheme
>>
>>
>>
>> Weaver calls Joint Fundraising Committee “money-laundering” scheme
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* Michael Briggs [mailto:[email-masked]
>> <[email-masked]>]
>> *Sent:* Monday, May 02, 2016 12:07 PM
>> *To:* Brinster, Jeremy
>> *Subject:* NEWS: Politico Exposes Clinton Campaign ‘Money-Laundering’
>> Scheme
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> **
>>
>>
>>
>> *Politico Exposes Clinton Campaign ‘Money-Laundering’ Scheme*
>>
>>
>>
>> *May 2, 2016*
>> * Contact: Michael Briggs (802) 233-8653 <%28802%29%20233-8653>*
>>
>> BURLINGTON, Vt. – U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders’ campaign manager, Jeff
>> Weaver, on Monday criticized a Hillary Clinton campaign fundraising scheme
>> that state party leaders told Politico
>> <http://sendy.berniesanders.com/l/DfrPBYJWWKIFXgZ763cGcMqQ/oGBNof3UBoDBjaNQNa6h0w/uYvdKjbV7632vO892kpilqumBw>
>> has been used as a self-serving “money-laundering" conduit.
>>
>> Despite Clinton’s pledges to rebuild state parties, Politico found that
>> less than 1 percent of the $61 million raised by the Victory Fund has
>> stayed in the state parties’ coffers.
>>
>> “Secretary Clinton is looting funds meant for the state parties to skirt
>> fundraising limits on her presidential campaign,” Weaver said. “We think
>> the Clinton campaign should let the state parties keep their fair share of
>> the cash.”
>>
>> Sanders’ and Clinton’s primary campaigns both raised about $26 million in
>> April, but Politico documented how the Hillary Victory Fund, a supposedly
>> joint fundraising committee, has been exploited to inflate her presidential
>> primary campaign.
>>
>> “Secretary Clinton has exploited the rules in ways that let her
>> high-dollar donors like Alice Walton of Wal-Mart fame and the actor George
>> Clooney and his super-rich Hollywood friends skirt legal limits on campaign
>> contributions,” Weaver added. “If Secretary Clinton can't raise the funds
>> needed to run in a competitive primary without resorting to laundering, how
>> will she compete against Donald Trump in a general election?”
>>
>> The Sanders campaign first raised questions about the arrangement in an
>> April 18 letter from Brad Deutsch, the attorney for Sanders’ campaign, to
>> U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the chair of the DNC.
>>
>> "Hillary Clinton says that campaign finance reform is one of the most
>> important issues facing our country but her campaign's use of the Victory
>> Fund to essentially launder money proves otherwise," Weaver said. "You
>> cannot exploit a broken campaign finance system one day and vow to get big
>> money out of politics the next."
>>
>> Sanders last month raised money for three progressive Democratic
>> candidates for the House of Representatives. Unlike the Hillary Victory
>> Fund, every dollar went directly to helping the candidates. The senator has
>> also raised significant sums for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign
>> Committee.
>>
>> *###*
>>
>> Paid for by Bernie 2016
>>
>>
>> PO Box 905 - Burlington, Vermont 05402, United States
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> Josh Schwerin
>>
>> Spokesman, Deputy Director of Rapid Response
>>
>> Hillary for America
>>
>> @JoshSchwerin
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> Josh Schwerin
>>
>> Spokesman, Deputy Director of Rapid Response
>>
>> Hillary for America
>>
>> @JoshSchwerin
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> Josh Schwerin
>>
>> Spokesman, Deputy Director of Rapid Response
>>
>> Hillary for America
>>
>> @JoshSchwerin
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> Josh Schwerin
>>
>> Spokesman, Deputy Director of Rapid Response
>>
>> Hillary for America
>>
>> @JoshSchwerin
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Josh Schwerin
> Spokesman, Deputy Director of Rapid Response
> Hillary for America
> @JoshSchwerin
>

-- 
Josh Schwerin
Spokesman, Deputy Director of Rapid Response
Hillary for America
@JoshSchwerin