Russ Feingold
A campaign finance expert claims Democrat Russ Feingold used his political action committee as a “slush fund.”
Feingold launched his Progressives United political action committee as an effort to fight the influence of corporate money in politics. However, Attorney Paul Jossey argues 95 percent of the money it raised went to purposes other than “pure political action.”
Jossey said 95 cents out of every dollar Progressives United had went towards salaries and building a national fundraising system, rather than helping progressive candidates. “Progressives United belongs in the same category as some of the other PACs that I called out because of its shady marketing practices and questionable spending,” Jossey said Tuesday during a call organized by Republican Senator Ron Johnson’s campaign.
Feingold is challenging Johnson in the U.S. Senate race. His campaign disputed the claim, which a spokesman said shows the senator is resorting to “false and desperate partisan attacks.”
Jossey’s comments come as both candidates and their respective parties have been firing allegations of questionable ethical behavior at the other side. Democrats this week filed an ethics complaint against Johnson, which questions a $10 million deferred compensation payment he received from the plastics company he helped run before he was elected to the senate. Johnson’s campaign has defended the payment as a standard business practice.