A new report from the New York Post digs deeper into Kyrsten Sinema’s ongoing campaign finance scandal, more closely examining Sinema’s questionable use of $700,000 for so-called security, all of which has seemingly been directed to the senator’s friends, and which is significantly more money spent than any other senator up for re-election.
Key findings:
- Sinema spent more than $700,000 on security since 2021, including $640K in campaign funds and an additional $53K from Senate funds.
- The only Senator who spent more on security over the same time period is Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), who was up for election TWICE (plus two run-offs), and had to foot the bill for large campaign rallies, including events with President Biden.
- Of Senators who are up for re-election at the same time as Sinema, they’ve each spent next to nothing on security. (For example, Senator Jon Tester reported ZERO campaign spending on security, while Senators Jacky Rosen and Sherrod Brown each reported spending less than $5,000.)
- More questionable: Sinema’s massive security spending is nearly all going to the same company – which is run by her friend, Tulsi Gabbard’s sister, Vrindivan Bellord. Over $240,000 of the security expenses is listed as meals and transportation for Bellord.
- Curiously, Bellord’s company is based in Texas, and its only client is Sinema.
- Furthermore, Sinema purchased a so-called security vehicle for (or from) Lance Polloreno, who has never done professional security, is a fellow endurance runner, and whose wife sits on a board with Sinema.
“Sinema’s campaign spending is eyebrow raising and her so-called ‘security expenses’ appear to be a slush fund for her friends,” said Replace Sinema spokesperson Sacha Haworth. “Why is Sinema giving hundreds of thousands of dollars – more than any other Senator – to people who have no professional security experience? It’s no wonder Sinema is being investigated by the FEC for campaign fraud.”
Excerpts below:
New York Post: Kyrsten Sinema Spends Campaign Cash On Vacations, Restaurants — And Security Services
June 15, 2023 // Lydia Moynihan
US Sen. Kyrsten Sinema has taken heat for spending campaign funds on lavish foreign vacations, posh restaurants and Napa wineries — and fresh filings show she also likes to spend big on personal security services.
The lawmaker from Arizona has spent nearly $700,000 on security alone since 2021, including $640,000 worth of campaign cash and an additional $53,000 of Senate funds, according to public election filings.
[…]
By comparison, most US senators spend just a few thousand dollars on their security. Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) spent nothing; Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) spent $856; Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) spent $4,915; and Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) $3,839.
Sinema’s security spending initially came under scrutiny in February after the Daily Beast reported she spent $307,000 of PAC money with an LLC called TOA.
According to filings, TOA’s only officer is Vrindivan Gabbard Bellord, the sister of Tulsi Gabbard.
TOA’s only client is Sen. Sinema.
In addition to the six-figure sum spent with Bellord, Sinema has also spent $240,000 on security-related expenses like transportation and meals for Bellord.
Some of the line items are raising eyebrows.
[…]
In response to On The Money’s previous reporting, the Federal Elections Commission has received requests to launch a formal investigation into her spending, according to the Arizona Republic.
Since the Daily Beast report, Sinema has spent another $130,000 on security, filings show.
Meanwhile, filings also reveal that in October, Sinema spent $70,000 on a “security detail vehicle.”
In November, she bought a second security vehicle for a man named Lance Polloreno.
Polloreno runs an HVAC company and has never done professional security.
He is, however, a fellow endurance runner and his wife sits on a board with Sinema as well.
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