Following up on this post, FEC Commissioners Bauerly and Weintraub have released this statement of reasons in the Romney matter. It concludes: “This was not a difficult case. Kern Gardner paid $150,000 to charter an airplane to fly himself and as many as 200 Romney supporters from Utah to Boston to work at an RFP fundraising event, at the campaign’s request. The law clearly states that any unreimbursed travel payment exceeding $1,000 made on behalf ofa campaign is a contribution to the candidate. RFP did not reimburse Mr. Gardner. The other travelers did not reimburse Mr. Gardner. That is why we voted to find reason to believe that Kern Gardner made, and Romney for President, Inc. and Darrell Crate, in his official capacity as treasurer accepted, an excessive in-kind contribution in this matter.”
No statement yet from Commissioner Walther.