August 28th, 2009
02:40 PM ET
14 years ago

Palin's PAC forced to correct FEC filing

[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/08/18/art.palin0818.gi.jpg caption=" Palin's PAC is correcting a number of FEC errors."]WASHINGTON (CNN) - Sarah Palin's political action committee violated federal election laws with two donations earlier this year and filed a mid-year report with a number of errors in it, according to the Federal Election Commission.

In a five-page letter to SarahPAC treasurer Tim Crawford, the FEC highlights a number of issues with the filed report, including donating more than is allowed to the reelection campaigns of Sens. John McCain and Lisa Murkowski, as well as not providing proper descriptions on how some of the PAC's money was spent.

Contacted by CNN, Crawford said the committee was currently revising the report to fix the errors and said these types of mistakes are not uncommon with FEC filings.

"A million of these [correction letters] go out every month," Crawford said. "They send out a lot of them.

A spokesman for the FEC said its standard practice for all reports to be reviewed, but would not estimate how many PAC's usually have to file corrections.

Specifically, the FEC notes SarahPAC gave $5,000 to McCain and Murkowski's primary campaigns - $2,600 more than is allowed for a PAC of SarahPAC's designation to give to a primary effort. SarahPAC also designated the donation for the senators' 2009 primary when in fact the primaries are in 2010.

To fix the error, Crawford said the PAC will allocate $2,400 to the senators' primary campaigns and $2,400 to the general election effort as is allowed under election laws. The PAC has also obtained a $200 refund from both campaigns to make up the difference.

"We essentially gave $200 too much," Crawford said. "We have since redesignated with both committees."

Crawford attributed some of the mistakes to being a new PAC and also noted FEC software that was supposed to flag mistakes when reports are initially submitted showed no errors with their filing.

"We filed what we thought was perfectly right," Crawford said. "If there is a violation, the FEC won't accept the report, but ours was accepted with no warnings or violations."

SarahPAC has until September 24 to file an amended report.

Follow Alex Mooney on twitter @awmooneyCNN


Filed under: Sarah Palin
soundoff (301 Responses)
  1. Sean

    She has to know that if she wants to continue her path down the road as a politician, such stuffs have to be done correctly. Any political enemies will emerge to attack her for the smallest of things. If she wants to continue down this path, good luck.

    August 28, 2009 11:32 am at 11:32 am |
  2. LacrosseMom

    Is this news CNN? Please do us all a favor and spare us for the Palin-Soap-opera.

    August 28, 2009 11:33 am at 11:33 am |
  3. Tom

    Why is Sarah Palin under such a microscope? Has CNN devoted the same resources it has allocated to watching her to the Obama white house, or the democrats, or to Acorn? I pray to God that she gets elected the next President and kicks the networks out of the White House.

    August 28, 2009 11:34 am at 11:34 am |
  4. Polar Bears Against Palin

    More lying and cheating from Caribou Barbie. Typical conservative. "Do as I say, not as I do."

    August 28, 2009 11:35 am at 11:35 am |
  5. Kevin in Ohio

    Ah, another Sarah Palin attack by CNN so left-wing idiots can spew forth their daily dose of hate and vitriol. Great job, CNN.

    August 28, 2009 11:35 am at 11:35 am |
  6. C.K.

    Palin is not a likeable human, and clueless.

    August 28, 2009 11:37 am at 11:37 am |
  7. TangledThorns

    Good, I think Sarah shouldn't of given so much to McCain and especially Murkowski. I'm donating again soon she can kick Obama out of the White House!! Go Sarah 2012!!

    August 28, 2009 11:39 am at 11:39 am |
  8. Bill B. Nancy,KY

    This isn't very surprising, given the fact that she is intellectually challenged!

    August 28, 2009 11:39 am at 11:39 am |
  9. sammieb51

    I have to stand with Bill Maher on this - I want to see her HS diploma.

    August 28, 2009 11:40 am at 11:40 am |
  10. Will

    I hate Sarah Palin as much as the next person

    but CNN, just because something is about Palin doesn't mean its news

    August 28, 2009 11:40 am at 11:40 am |
  11. Gina

    Okay, yesterday lots of people asked you to quit reporting about her.
    I suppose this one is newsworthy, but for those who are not fans, another straw is not required to break the camel's back and for those who are SARAH!! fans, there is nothing she could do short of serial killing that would dampen their ardor for her.
    Unless, of course, it was serial killing of "liberal/progressives".

    August 28, 2009 11:40 am at 11:40 am |
  12. TRP

    Palin's criminal group again shows they have no regards for laws. Probably why she and her entire family are secessionist traitors.

    August 28, 2009 11:40 am at 11:40 am |
  13. Polar Bears Against Palin

    Actucally, the country is in much better shape because of Obama. Even the economy is getting back on track. So, you right wing war mongerrs need to take the toothpick out of your mouth and wise up. I know a lot of Republicans hate Obama because HE IS BLACK. That's the truth. Deal with it.

    August 28, 2009 11:42 am at 11:42 am |
  14. gl, From Pittsburgh

    And this woman wants to be the President of the USA. First, she can not even keep her appointment book right let along her SaraPAC account right. This woman is not fit to the our President not in 2012 or ever.

    August 28, 2009 11:42 am at 11:42 am |
  15. WI Henry

    Another fine example of ethics of the republican party. They just keep growing everyday!
    Bye, bye republican party, can't wait to see you go!

    August 28, 2009 11:43 am at 11:43 am |
  16. Dave C - NJ

    Will you clowns STOP complaining about Palin stories? Every time you click one, you ensure there will be more.

    You sound like old ladies watching a movie you don't like and yelling at the screen. If you don't like it, don't watch it!!!!

    August 28, 2009 11:44 am at 11:44 am |
  17. bob

    please go fishing - i am sick of seeing her dumb face in the media.

    August 28, 2009 11:45 am at 11:45 am |
  18. Juan

    Don't blame Sarah for this mess – she doesn't have the intelligence to grasp these issues.......

    August 28, 2009 11:45 am at 11:45 am |
  19. joel palmer

    Is there anything that this woman cannot screw up? Is there no bottom to this hole? Her ineptitude is breathtaking.

    She would have been on bad ECG away from the Presidency if the republipigs had ther way.

    Do't ever forget that the republipigs have given us:
    Nixon
    Dole
    Quayle
    Bush I and II
    Cheney
    McCain
    Palin

    and a whole host of lesser lights; incompetents and freinds of big business masquerading as "guys you'd want to have a beer with"

    This is a party of sheer treachery

    August 28, 2009 11:45 am at 11:45 am |
  20. Rob R

    It's comforting to know that, sooner than they realize, the fringe folks who use code words such as ACORN to disguise bigotry and racism will be fading away like all things who's time has passed. It is too bad that these people have come to be associated with what was once the Grand Old Party. Fade away...."the America you knew and loved" (code phrase for segregation) is no longer...fade away....

    August 28, 2009 11:45 am at 11:45 am |
  21. Puff the Magic Dragon

    Why is this news? As the article states, tons of these correction letters go out all the time. Why is SarahPac special enough to warrant CNN coverage? When is CNN's love affair with Sarah Palin going to end?

    August 28, 2009 11:45 am at 11:45 am |
  22. Are we done yet

    yawn.
    Stop reporting about her and she will go away.
    CNN – you do more to spread her popularity than low IQs and the NRA.

    August 28, 2009 11:46 am at 11:46 am |
  23. "Victim" - Often Used, Rarely True

    Let's see, if you want her left alone, my advice would be for her to step out of the spotlight. She doesn't get special treatment, and don't act like there isn't an "attack" story about Obama on here every day, let alone Fox News. Your selective memories make you seem silly, as if remaining a Republican wasn't enough.

    August 28, 2009 11:46 am at 11:46 am |
  24. TonySTL

    I believe she's a complete idiot, but have to agree that this is not news. Who really cares about her? Don't report on her and just let her fade out in her blithering stupidity and glory.

    August 28, 2009 11:47 am at 11:47 am |
  25. Irma in North Carolina

    She probably took the money and ran to fox news to see if she could get the fox gang on her cabinet when alaska votes her to white house.

    August 28, 2009 11:47 am at 11:47 am |
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