Rashida Tlaib found herself in hot water over campaign finance violations like her good buddy Rep. Ilhan Omar.
Rep. Omar has paid fines and corrected her mistake of using her campaign fund for personal business and for filing incorrect IRS forms.
Now Rep. Tlaib is in the spotlight and she may have some problems in the same area after it turned out that one of her big donors (who kicked in $2500) has been dead for 10 years.
The Free Beacon reported that Democratic freshman representative Rashida Tlaib received a generous donation during the second quarter in the name of a man who died more than 10 years ago, a review of campaign and online records shows.
Rep. Tlaib’s campaign committee, Rashida Tlaib for Congress, hauled in donations of at least $2,000 from dozens of individuals between April 1 and June 30. One of those contributions was Michigan businessman George S. Farah Sr., real estate developer and community leader who made his way from Palestine to the U.S. in the 1950s. Farah passed away on Feb. 1, 2009, from heart failure, according to a Michigan Live article published at the time of his death.
On June 22, Rep. Tlaib’s campaign received a $2,500 donation in his name, Federal Election Commission filings show. A search of public records, which also state that he is deceased, provides an address identical to the one written on the contribution to Rep. Tlaib’s campaign committee. Grand Blanc Township property records also show that the residence located at that address is registered in Farah’s name along with that of his widow.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib is the sole federal politician to receive a donation in Farah’s name for the 2020 election cycle. In the past, Rep. Dan Kildee has also received contributions from Farah following his passing.
Kildee, who first ran for the House of Representatives during the 2012 election cycle, was given $1,400 in total contributions in Farah’s name between 2011 and 2017. The two Democratic representatives from Michigan are the only federal politicians who received money in Farah’s name for the past 10 years.
Federal law prohibits making campaign contributions in the name of another individual.
“It is illegal to make a campaign contribution in the name of another person and a campaign must ensure all donor information is reported accurately,” said executive director of the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust, Kendra Arnold.
“The requirement of accurate disclosure of campaign contributors is important to inform voters of the source of campaign funds, prevent corruption, and ensure individuals are contributing within the legal limits.”
Rep. Tlaib’s campaign didn’t respond to a request for comment before publication. A spokesman for Rep. Kildee’s campaign, however, did.
“Gisele Farah is the sole beneficiary of a trust in her late husband’s name, George S. Farah Sr., who passed away in 2009,” the spokesman said.
“Since his death, Gisele Farah, as the sole beneficiary in control of the trust, has contributed to the campaign with funds from her trust. Our campaign’s records have been amended to clarify that the campaign contributions were from Gisele Farah and should be designated under her name.”
