{"id":1165413,"date":"2021-12-28T14:04:25","date_gmt":"2021-12-28T19:04:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1165413"},"modified":"2021-12-28T14:04:59","modified_gmt":"2021-12-28T19:04:59","slug":"campaign-finance-questions-swirl-around-potential-pa-gop-gubernatorial-contender-doug-mastriano","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/campaign-finance-questions-swirl-around-potential-pa-gop-gubernatorial-contender-doug-mastriano\/","title":{"rendered":"Campaign Finance Questions Swirl Around Potential PA GOP Gubernatorial Contender Doug Mastriano"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcampaign-finance-questions-swirl-around-potential-pa-gop-gubernatorial-contender-doug-mastriano%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1165413&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p class=\"subheading\">Pennsylvania state Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-Franklin), a potential Republican gubernatorial candidate in the Keystone State, has been accused by critics of violating campaign finance laws, as they say he is essentially campaigning for governor of the state without a formal campaign committee set up, soliciting donations through his committee.<\/p>\n<p>Mastriano, however, adamantly asserts he is in compliance with Pennsylvania campaign finance law \u2014 which is a relatively nebulous legal landscape, according to experts.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"gmxrevmore\" class=\"H\"><\/figure>\n<p>Mastriano, a state lawmaker who this year <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/politics\/2021\/06\/04\/pa-state-senator-championing-election-integrity-voted-for-no-excuse-absentee-voting-in-the-state\/\">positioned<\/a> himself as a leading advocate for election integrity yet&nbsp;joined his Republican colleagues in voting for the measure, Act 77,&nbsp;permitting no-excuse voting, has launched an exploratory committee to launch a gubernatorial bid in the state. However, he has not formally declared a run. Despite that, there is looming suspicion that he is soliciting campaign contributions through groups supporting him, essentially&nbsp;campaigning for governor of the state without a formal campaign committee set up.<\/p>\n<p>The draft <a href=\"https:\/\/www.doug4gov.com\">Doug for Governor<\/a>&nbsp;website\u2019s donation link goes to a page via&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pavoterservices.pa.gov\/ElectionInfo\/CommitteeInfo.aspx?ID=16199\">Friends of Doug Mastriano<\/a>. The donation link on his state Senate website is the same, listing \u201cDoug Mastriano (PA-SD-33)\u201don the fundraising invite. Critics say he is essentially unofficially running&nbsp;for governor and raising money through this committee, prompting suspicion of violating campaign finance laws.<\/p>\n<p>A large electronic billboard near I81 Exit 16 along US 30, which flashes several advertisements, includes one with a photo of Mastriano which reportedly reads, \u201cLet\u2019s Change This Man\u2019s Title to Governor.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<div id=\"attachment_19286386\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/image-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-19286386\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/image-1.jpg\" alt=\"Billboard. (Breitbart News).\" width=\"640\" height=\"852\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Billboard. (Obtained by Breitbart News).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The sign\u2019s Disclaimer reveals that it is paid for by Mastriano\u2019s state Senate campaign committee,&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/fight4pa.com\/\">fight4pa.com.<\/a>&nbsp;That is also his state Senate campaign website, which lists&nbsp;Friends of Doug Mastriano, P.O. Box 138,&nbsp;Fayetteville, PA 17222, as the contact address. The website is devoted to his capacity as senator \u2014 not a potential gubernatorial bid. This has prompted further suspicions that Mastriano is coordinating with groups supporting him to solicit campaign contributions. There are several ads and events showing Friends of Doug Mastriano as the facilitator, for both his State Senate work as well as this potential gubernatorial run.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_19286538\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-19286538\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1.png\" alt=\"Screenshot. (Breitbart News).\" width=\"640\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Screenshot. (Obtained by Breitbart News).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_19286546\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-19286546\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/2.png\" alt=\"Screenshot. (Breitbart News).\" width=\"640\" height=\"534\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Screenshot. (Obtained by Breitbart News).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_19286578\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-19286578\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/3.png\" alt=\"Screenshot. (Breitbart News).\" width=\"640\" height=\"528\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Screenshot. (Obtained by Breitbart News).<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B3\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_19286618\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/4.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-19286618\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/4.png\" alt=\"Screenshot. (Breitbart News).\" width=\"640\" height=\"531\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Screenshot. (Obtained by Breitbart News).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_19286650\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/5.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-19286650\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/5.png\" alt=\"Screenshot. (Breitbart News).\" width=\"640\" height=\"954\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Screenshot. (Obtained by Breitbart News).<\/p>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_19286706\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/7.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-19286706\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/7.png\" alt=\"Screenshot. (Obtained by Breitbart News).\" width=\"640\" height=\"890\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Screenshot. (Obtained by Breitbart News).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_19286730\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/8.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-19286730\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/8.png\" alt=\"Screenshot. (Obtained by Breitbart News).\" width=\"640\" height=\"355\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Screenshot. (Obtained by Breitbart News).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_19286754\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/9.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-19286754\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/9.png\" alt=\"Screenshot. (Obtained by Breitbart News).\" width=\"640\" height=\"506\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Screenshot. (Obtained by Breitbart News).<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B4\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_19286802\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/10.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-19286802\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/10.png\" alt=\"Screenshot. (Obtained by Breitbart News).\" width=\"640\" height=\"423\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Screenshot. (Obtained by Breitbart News).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Mastriano, however, released a video addressed to \u201cknuckleheads\u201d who have raised questions.<\/p>\n<p>The limo, for instance, was paid for by a supporter who<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;\u201c<\/span>did that out of their own pocket,\u201d he explained, knocking the \u201clefty\u201d reporter who took a picture of the limo.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t have the money to do something like that,\u201d he said, adding that quite a few people are \u201creally going above and beyond the call of duty to help\u201d him become their governor.<\/p>\n<p>He went on to blast \u201cso-called fellow Republicans\u201d who \u201cecho the lies of the left\u201d to \u201cadvance their own selfish ambitions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Pennsylvania law does not explicitly recognize exploratory committees. The Department of State\u2019s form used to register committees allows one to declare whether or not they are supporting a specific candidate or if it is a candidate-authorized committee, which essentially acts as an alter ego for the candidate. However, it is acceptable under Pennsylvania law to not specify which office one is specifically running for. It can be undeclared, and one can raise money under the pretense of exploring a run. In other words, there is nothing inherently wrong with an exploratory committee, according to legal experts.<\/p>\n<p>The concern, however, is if one files for a committee under one office but uses it to run for another. This situation is a legal gray area, and that is where the suspicions surrounding Mastriano loom, as Pennsylvania&nbsp;campaign finance laws are hazy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPennsylvania election law is very nebulous on this issue because there is a dearth of clarifying legal decisions,\u201d Jesse D. Daniel, Esq. of the Daniel Law Group PLLC told Breitbart News.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut the overriding policy behind these laws is for candidates to disclose and be up-front with the electorate. So candidates should always err on the side of being crystal clear in these matters so the electorate has the clarity and knowledge the law says they deserve,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, the Department of State that collects the information has no prosecutorial powers in this realm and does not enforce the rules. That power lies with the attorney general\u2019s office and local county prosecutors, although the attorney general\u2019s office typically pursues cases which are more clear, like instances of fraud or blatant misuse of campaign funds. Local county prosecutors often do not pursue these issues either, given their political nature. In other words, there is no&nbsp;robust enforcement mechanism to test these situations and bring the claims in front of judges.<\/p>\n<p>In an exclusive statement to Breitbart News, Mastriano adamantly denied that he is in violation of campaign finance laws.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAny fundraising&nbsp;conducted by \u2018Friends of Doug Mastriano\u2019 is absolutely compliant with Pennsylvania campaign&nbsp;finance law,\u201d he said in a statement,\u201d adding that \u201cany \u2018speculation\u2019 to the contrary is entirely false.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat speculation likely comes from those who are intimidated by&nbsp;candidates like me that have the ability to fundraise&nbsp;without&nbsp;having to rely on special interest and corporate money,\u201d Mastriano added.<\/p>\n<p>Pennsylvania\u2019s Department of State responded to an inquiry from Breitbart News concerning the topic with a brief statement, noting that the office will not offer \u201cadvisory opinions on whether someone might or might not be in violation of the Campaign Finance law.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mastriano made waves over the summer after positioning himself as a lead advocate for election integrity,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/politics\/2021\/06\/03\/pennsylvania-republicans-call-for-arizona-style-election-audit-in-the-keystone-state\/\">touring<\/a> Arizona\u2019s audit site at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix. However, he along with his Republican colleagues supported Act 77 in the Keystone State, \u201cwhich arguably caused many of the issues seen during the 2020 election \u2014 particularly permitting no-excuse voting in exchange for the abolishment of straight-ticket voting,\u201d as Breitbart News <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/politics\/2021\/06\/04\/pa-state-senator-championing-election-integrity-voted-for-no-excuse-absentee-voting-in-the-state\/\">detailed<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>At the time, Mastriano told Breitbart News that Ac 77 had unanimous Republican support and \u201calmost unanimous Democrat opposition.\u201d<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>\u201cThere were no red flags as evidenced that every Republican in the Senate supported it, even those of us who are routinely a \u2018no\u2019 vote on anything that could undermine our freedoms. And the near-unanimous Democrat opposition to this bill highlights that in its original form, there was no insidious risk,\u201d he continued, casting blame on the PA Supreme Court, as well as&nbsp;Secretary of State Boockvar, and Governor Wolf, who he said \u201chad other ambitions,\u201d asserting they \u201crewrote Act 77 to compromise our election.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pennsylvania state Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-Franklin), a potential Republican gubernatorial candidate in the Keystone State, has been accused by critics of violating campaign finance laws, as they say he is &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1165413","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1165413","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1165413"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1165413\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1165413"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1165413"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1165413"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}