The FEC Notified Sinema Nearly One Month Ago of the Complaint Against Her and Gave Her 15 Days to Respond. Where’s The Response?
Today, Change for Arizona 2024 PAC (also known as Replace Sinema PAC) launched a new video ad highlighting Kyrsten Sinema’s spending scandal and the FEC complaint against her.
Yesterday marked one month since Change for Arizona 2024 PAC filed a 27-page complaint with the FEC against Kyrsten Sinema and her three political committees, alleging that Sinema illegally diverted campaign funds by making expenditures for her personal use, and violating disclosure regulations.
The complaint details more than $180,000 in campaign, PAC, and Senate funds spent on luxury hotels and resorts, car services, expensive charter flights, high-end restaurants, and winery visits and purchases, which have very little to do with the actual business of getting elected and are outside the norm of campaign spending. Many of the establishments Sinema visited are known and advertised to be luxurious, upscale, or high-end with costs and rates significantly above a reasonable amount for campaign purposes.
As one Arizona attorney and ethics expert said; “When I read this FEC complaint, I was shocked – and I’ve seen a lot of political corruption in my life. You don’t get to mislead donors. You don’t get to take money that’s intended for a public use and turn it into a private benefit, and she has clearly done that in spades.”
The complaint was filed on May 19, 2023, and the FEC acknowledged receipt on May 24. According to FEC procedure, Sinema and her political committees have “15 days to demonstrate, in writing, that no action should be taken against them in response to the complaint.” Respondents are allowed to request an extension in writing with explanation as to why one should be granted.
“Sinema’s silence on the FEC investigation into her campaigns speaks volumes. The law is clear, and Sinema broke it,” said Sacha Haworth, spokesperson for Replace Sinema. “If Sinema has an explanation, then she needs to share that with the public — but it’s hard to think of any case where her luxurious and frivolous spending could be legitimate. Arizonans deserve answers.”
The complaint comes amidst several recent news investigations into Sinema’s spending, including luxury expenses, travel to international hotspots like Paris and Barcelona on her donors’ dime, and use of campaign funds related to her athletic hobby – including, for example, an $8,000 bill to stay at the Ritz Carlton during the Boston Marathon.
The spending scandal, combined with Sinema’s ongoing ties to special interests, including the private equity industry, has led several Arizona groups and elected legislators to call for Sinema to resign.
Earlier, a separate complaint was filed with the Senate Ethics Committee related to Sinema’s abuse of her staff. The leaked memo detailing Sinema’s treatment of staff also included a look into how Sinema schedules her time – a weekly one-hour massage, two physical therapy appointments per week related to her athletic training, coffees with lobbyists and donors, but only thirty minutes per week for constituents (with each constituent limited to just three minutes of the Senator’s time). Bizarrely, Sinema was also caught selling clothes on Facebook marketplace during the legislative workday.
Arizonans have taken notice:
Arizona Republic: Sen. Kyrsten Sinema hit with complaint of lavish campaign spending
Ron Hansen // May 19, 2023
The group’s complaint mirrors spending detailed last week by the Daily Beast and builds on a narrative touted by U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., who is vying for her seat, of a senator unwilling to meet with her constituents as she does the bidding of billionaires.
Arizona’s Family (PhoeniX CBS5/3TV)): FEC complaint calls for federal probe of Sen. Kyrsten Sinema spending
Derek Staahl // May 18, 2023
Sinema has faced mounting questions about the legitimacy of more than $180,000 in campaign expenditures dating back to 2019 on luxury hotels, posh resorts, Michelin-star restaurants, international travel and winery visits.
WATCH HERE.
This segment also ran on KOLD-TV in Tucson.
Arizona Sun Times: Complaint Filed Against Senator Kyrsten Sinema over Campaign Spending
Neil Jones // May 20, 2023
The CFAPAC’s complaint states that Sinema continuing to pursue personal hobbies while in the office is no crime, but using campaign funding to do so is. The PAC also noted that some of Sinema’s trips involving fine dining or recreation coincided with a campaign event. However, they argue that one event during a multi-day trip does not justify using campaign funds for all expenses related to the outing.
KNXV-TV—ABC15 (Phoenix)
May 19, 2023
Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema facing a new FEC complaint…
KMSB-TV (FOX) – Tucson
May 18, 2023
A complaint has been filed with the FEC to request a formal investigation into Senator Kyrsten Sinema’s campaign spending. The complaint, filed by Change for Arizona 2024, a PAC trying to unseat the Senator, alleges that Sinema “illegally diverted funds intended for her campaign for personal use.”
NBC News: Eyes on 2024: Sinema spending
May 19, 2023
Replace Sinema, a Democratic-aligned group that has advocated against Arizona Independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s re-election, filed an FEC complaint questioning her campaign spending on “luxury hotels, chauffeurs, private jets, fancy dinners, and wine.”