{"id":972297,"date":"2021-11-05T13:14:33","date_gmt":"2021-11-05T17:14:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=972297"},"modified":"2021-11-05T13:14:38","modified_gmt":"2021-11-05T17:14:38","slug":"exclusive-ethics-watchdog-will-file-complaint-requesting-investigation-into-ca-democrat-rudy-salas-campaign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-ethics-watchdog-will-file-complaint-requesting-investigation-into-ca-democrat-rudy-salas-campaign\/","title":{"rendered":"Exclusive: Ethics Watchdog Will File Complaint Requesting Investigation into CA Democrat Rudy Salas, Campaign"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/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%2Fexclusive-ethics-watchdog-will-file-complaint-requesting-investigation-into-ca-democrat-rudy-salas-campaign%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=972297&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\">The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT), a&nbsp;non-partisan ethics watchdog organization, will file a complaint Friday with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) seeking an immediate investigation into California state Rep. Rudy Salas (D) and his campaign for allegedly using state&nbsp;campaign resources for his&nbsp;federal congressional race.<\/p>\n<p>Salas, a state elected official in California, on October 18, announced his candidacy for the&nbsp;House of Representatives in the state\u2019s 21st congressional district to take on Republican incumbent Rep. David Valadao (R-CA).&nbsp;The complaint shared exclusively with Breitbart News before its filing outlines the allegations against Salas, using \u201cstate campaign assets for his federal campaign,\u201d which&nbsp;\u201cviolates federal election laws, including contribution limits and reporting requirements.\u201d<\/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>The allegation is centered on the accusation that Salas used old signage from his state campaign for his federal election,&nbsp;which&nbsp;\u201cviolates federal election laws\u201d due to not being allowed to mix resources.<\/p>\n<p>During Salas\u2019s House campaign launch, the Democrat was at a podium with campaign signs around him, some being held by \u201cpositioned supporters,\u201d which said \u201cRudy Salas for Congress.\u201d However, FACT\u2019s complaint noted, \u201cThe campaign signs appear to be Salas\u2019 campaign signs from his previous 2020 state campaign that had been altered to use for his federal campaign.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe consensus view among observers is that Salas used signs from his past campaigns for California State Assembly, trimmed a border which read \u2018Law Enforcement, Teachers, and Firefighters support,\u2019 and used the tape to cover the word \u2018Assembly,\u2019\u201d a recent report from the&nbsp;<em>San Joaquin Valley Sun<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/sjvsun.com\/news\/politics\/taped-up-signs-may-put-salas-in-hot-water-with-federal-campaign-watchdogs\/\">revealed<\/a>. After FACT touches on the report from <em>SJV Sun<\/em>, it&nbsp;conceded that \u201cIt is unclear from the photographs whether Salas had taken any steps to remove inaccurate disclosures or include the appropriate disclosures on the signs.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"8.7014925373134\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">My name is Rudy Salas and I\u2019m running for Congress in <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/CA21?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#CA21<\/a>! <br \/>I have fought for the Central Valley for a decade in Sacramento, and today I\u2019m taking that fight to Washington.   <br \/>Will you chip in $10 or more to help launch this campaign?<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/8mgO770poI\">https:\/\/t.co\/8mgO770poI<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/BJeBGurcct\">pic.twitter.com\/BJeBGurcct<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Rudy Salas Jr (@rudysalasjr) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/rudysalasjr\/status\/1450226520148963328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 18, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The complaint outlined the&nbsp;alleged&nbsp;federal election laws violated:<\/p>\n<blockquote readability=\"29\">\n<p>Federal law prohibits federal candidates from soliciting, receiving, directing, transferring, or spending funds in connection with an election for federal office unless the funds are subject to the limitations, prohibitions, and reporting requirements of the Act. For instance, funds raised for a state campaign are not subject to federal contribution limitations or federal reporting requirements for contributions and expenditures, and these \u201cnon-federal\u201d funds cannot be used for a federal election.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to funds, a federal campaign cannot use the assets of a state campaign. The regulation also specifies that federal candidate campaign committees are prohibited from accepting contributions from a non-federal candidate campaign committee: \u201cTransfers of funds or assets from a candidate\u2019s campaign committee or account for a nonfederal election to his or her principal campaign committee or other authorized committee for a federal election are prohibited.\u201d<\/p>\n[\u2026]\n<p>Federal law also requires that all communications made by a campaign display a \u201cclear and conscious\u201d Disclaimer. Specifically, the Disclaimer should state that it is paid for by the campaign committee, be easy to read, and not placed where it could be easily overlooked.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>After&nbsp;local media&nbsp;recognized the Democrat potentially violated&nbsp;federal campaign law,&nbsp;FACT noted in the complaint that&nbsp;Salas&nbsp;canceled a media appearance at the last second. The host of <em>Sunday Morning Matters<\/em> on KSEE, an&nbsp;NBC-affiliated local station, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yourcentralvalley.com\/news\/local-news\/panel-did-assemblyman-rudy-salas-violate-a-federal-campaign-rule-and-is-redistricting-the-political-landscape-truly-equitable\/\">stated<\/a>, \u201c[Salas] canceled on me on the last second\u201d before conducting a panel to discuss his campaign signs.<\/p>\n<p>Eventually, Salas was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yourcentralvalley.com\/news\/local-news\/exclusive-congressional-candidate-salas-avoids-answering-allegations-over-a-federal-campaign-violation-pundits-will-focus-on-anything-but-my-record\/\">interviewed<\/a> and directly asked multiple times to comment on the campaign signs, which he would not answer if he&nbsp;violated any federal campaign finance rules. Instead, he gave long-drawn-out answers. The complaint noted, \u201cWhile he refused to answer the question or provide any information to voters, Salas gave long, rambling, off-topic responses in an attempt to avoid the questions.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"11.353896103896\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Rudy Salas announces bid for Congress<br \/>\u201cPeople that have followed my career and know me know that I\u2019ve always been an independent voice, I\u2019ve been somebody that\u2019s been honest, true, somebody that\u2019s had grit and determination\u2026<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/3t3bb9Qa3w\">https:\/\/t.co\/3t3bb9Qa3w<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Rudy Salas Jr (@rudysalasjr) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/rudysalasjr\/status\/1450504656640163843?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 19, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B3\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cThis is a case where the evidence of a violation is further supported by Salas\u2019 response.&nbsp;Candidates and elected officials should be held to high standards to ensure they do not abuse the inherent power that comes from holding office,\u201d&nbsp;FACT\u2019s Executive Director Kendra Arnold told Breitbart News.<\/p>\n<p>Arnold explained Salas not answering \u201csimple and direct questions\u201d about his campaign being named for a possible FEC&nbsp;investigation is \u201cdisrespectful to the citizens who deserve straightforward answers from elected officials.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201c[FACT] requested the FEC not only investigate this case but also ensure that Salas has not used any other state campaign assets for his federal campaign,\u201d Arnold concluded.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_18622578\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" readability=\"45\"><a href=\"https:\/\/media.breitbart.com\/media\/2021\/11\/AP_20342845843940.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-18622578\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/AP_20342845843940-1024x683-1.jpg\" alt width=\"990\" height=\"660\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Democratic Assembly members, from left to right, Jose Medina of Riverside, Wendy Carrillo of Los Angeles, Lisa Caldero of Whittier, and Rudy Salas, Jr. of Bakersfield, pose for a photo after taking the oath of office in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, Dec. 7, 2020. (AP Photo\/Rich Pedroncelli)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>According to the&nbsp;SJV Sun&nbsp;Salas\u2019s recent&nbsp;filings with California\u2019s Secretary of State shows he has&nbsp;$906,762.24 cash on hand.<\/p>\n<p>The report noted, \u201cMany wind up utilizing remaining state-level campaign funds to pay for other non-Federal political expenses, support down-ballot candidates, ballot measures, or charities. Others refund donors.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A full copy of the FACT\u2019s complaint will be filed against Salas can be found <a href=\"https:\/\/65db7681-e755-4cff-abe7-1d9e373df4db.usrfiles.com\/ugd\/65db76_33abcf56b009431cba1984a1ee1560d0.pdf\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>FACT has also gone after failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, as well as more recently,&nbsp;Democrat Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) chair Rep. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/midterm-election\/2021\/10\/26\/report-dccc-chair-sean-patrick-maloney-may-abandon-democrat-house-majority-to-run-for-new-york-ag\/\">Sean Patrick Maloney<\/a> (D-NY), Biden\u2019s&nbsp;Secretary of Energy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/politics\/2021\/10\/20\/ethics-watchdog-files-hatch-act-complaint-against-energy-secretary-jennifer-granholm\/\">Jennifer Granholm<\/a>, and&nbsp;Rep. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/politics\/2021\/10\/05\/ethics-watchdog-calls-for-investigation-into-nevada-rep-susie-lee\/\">Susan Lee<\/a> (D-NV).<\/p>\n<p><b data-stringify-type=\"bold\">UPDATE<\/b>: Breitbart News attempted to reach Salas\u2019s Capitol, Bakersfield, and Hanford offices regarding the ethics complaint being filed against him. However, no one was available for comment in each office.<\/p>\n<p><strong><i>Jacob Bliss is a reporter for Breitbart News. You can follow him on <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/jacobmbliss\"><i>Twitter<\/i><\/a><i>.<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT), a\u00a0non-partisan ethics watchdog organization, will file a complaint Friday with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) seeking an immediate investigation into California state &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"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-972297","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\/972297","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\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=972297"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/972297\/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=972297"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=972297"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=972297"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}