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: Wed, 4 May 2016 20:03:39 -0400

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