Harrison Campaign Addresses Amy Kennedy’s Illegal Coordination With Dark Money Super PAC with Formal Complaint To The FEC

[May 30, 2020 – Longport, New Jersey] Late this week, the New Jersey Globe reported that Amy Kennedy’s husband, former Congressman Patrick Kennedy contributed $500,000 to a Super PAC called Blue Organizing Project.  Specifically, the story stated that Kennedy had been the sole donor supporting the Super PAC; that the entity had already spent $75,000 in negative advertising against his wife’s opponent, Brigid Callahan Harrison; and that this was the only political activity conducted by the organization. Prior to Patrick Kennedy’s personal contribution, Blue Organizing Project Super PAC had just $608 cash-on-hand. 

Federal election law requires that planning and expenditures made by Super PACs must remain uncoordinated with the political campaigns that they support. It should be noted that Patrick Kennedy and his wife, the only beneficiary of the Super PAC contribution, are married, live in the same house, and that during the COVID-19 crisis, the Kennedy home has served as a home base for the Amy Kennedy for Congress campaign. 

In response, Brigid for South Jersey announced Friday that it will file a formal complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC).  The following is a statement from Paul Weborg, Campaign Manager for Brigid for South Jersey:

“By contributing $500,000 to a dark money Super PAC and trying to hide the coordinated expenditures between the Super PAC and the campaign, it is clear that Amy and Patrick Kennedy have broken numerous campaign laws to illegally support the Amy Kennedy for Congress campaign.

“In consultation with legal counsel and our campaign advisors, Brigid for South Jersey will be asking the FEC to conduct a full investigation into the Kennedy campaign’s coordination and Mr. Kennedy’s political contributions to the Blue Organizing Project Super PAC.

“This is a disappointing revelation and a serious legal matter.  There is no place in our politics to blindly ignore the laws of our country and it is important that everyone plays by the same rules, no matter who you are or what you last name might be.”
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