Anna Sanders at the New York Post reported that left-wing actress/comedian Rosie O’Donnell “made illegally over-sized campaign donations to at least five Democratic federal candidates, according to a Post analysis of campaign filings."
Federal Election Commission rules limit the total any one person can give to an individual candidate at $2,700 per election, whether it's a primary or general or special election. O'Donnell has donated more than $90,000 the 2017-2018 election cycle to 50 different federal candidates and committees, the Post reported.
O’Donnell donated $4,700 to Alabama Sen. Doug Jones in his victorious Senate special-election race against Roy Moore; $3,600 to Pennsylvania Rep. Conor Lamb for the special House election he won in March; $2,950 to Trump-trashing Rep. Adam Schiff for his primary; $4,200 to Illinois House candidate Lauren Underwood for her primary run in the Chicago suburbs; and $3,450 to Omar Vaid, a House candidate in Staten Island and southern Brooklyn.
“Nothing nefarious,” O’Donnell replied to the Post. “I was not choosing to over donate.” Except she gave “a combined $5,400 in contributions over the limit to the five candidates, and used five different New York addresses and four variations of her name.”
“If 2700 is the cut off — [candidates] should refund the money,” she wrote. “I don’t look to see who I can donate most to … I just donate assuming they do not accept what is over the limit.”
O’Donnell said she donates often, and uses the online liberal fundraising platform ActBlue. “My anxiety is quelled by donating to those opposing trump [and] his agenda — especially at night — when most of these were placed.”
Donors and candiates are legally liable for contributions that go over the limit, but it's usually treated like a misunderstanding. The money can be refunded or used in a different election.
