Christine O’Donnell Under Criminal Investigation

Filed in National by on December 29, 2010

Christine O’Donnell is under federal criminal investigation for misuse of campaign funds. I will update when more information is available.

The local News Journal article on Christine’s federal probe.

The Washington Post is running the complete AP article.

From the Washington Post:

A person with knowledge of a federal campaign-finance investigation says a criminal probe has been opened into whether Delaware Republican Christine O’Donnell broke the law by using campaign money to pay personal expenses.

From USA Today:

The case, which has been assigned to two federal prosecutors and two FBI agents in Delaware, has not been sent to a grand jury, the AP says.

From Talking Points Memo:

The AP reports that the complaint is based largely on a sworn statement by David Keegan, who was a campaign finance consultant for O’Donnell.

From AP:

In a message sent last week to The AP, Keegan said he had not been questioned as part of a criminal investigation, and that he considers himself only a “catalyst” in a case in which several people must be questioned to scrutinize O’Donnell’s accounting practices and alleged misuse of campaign funds.

For those of you unfamiliar with the history of O’Donnell’s campaign finances, here is a good article from the Christian Science Monitor.

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Opinionated chemist, troublemaker, blogger on national and Delaware politics.

Comments (33)

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  1. reis says:

    How many thousands was spent on Nair?

  2. nemski says:

    This will be an interesting day.

  3. enemy2k says:

    Not surprised, corruption and fraud are a form of street cred in the GOP.

  4. Paratrooper18 says:

    Is she under investigation for the money she misused this campaign, or the last campaign?

  5. So, has this appeared on Delaware Politics yet?

  6. phil says:

    DPing teabaggers tend to drag their feet on these kinds of things..

  7. nemski says:

    No, UI, it hasn’t. Now I have to bleach my brain after visiting there.

  8. nemski says:

    P18, I believe it is this year, especially during Delaware’s long primary season.

  9. phil says:

    So, is this the complaint filed by the DEGOP or another one?

  10. nemski says:

    phil, best guess this is from the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington’s complaint. They sent notice to the FEC and the US Attorney in Delaware.

    http://www.citizensforethics.org/crew-calls-for-odonnell-criminal-investigation

  11. We don’t know enough yet to know the exact complaint. My guess is that it came from the CREW complaint, which was based on her recent filings and old ones. I believe CREW pointed out that she used campaign money to pay for bowling, gas and food after the 2008 campaign. The AP says the report came from a lawyer of someone interviewed in the probe.

  12. Keegan, was that the guy who wasn’t paid by COD?

  13. nemski says:

    Please check post for latest updates.

  14. nemski says:

    That’s right UI, it looks like part of COD’s inner-circle snitched on her.

  15. Capt.Willard says:

    @reis-If you’re referring to that “pillow talk” from that wannabe celebrity, it’s hard to tell.
    Her legs and face, in public appearances, met the hirsute requirements society places on the fairer sex.
    Of course, her armpits and nether regions were unavailable for inspection.
    My sources tell me her odor was not in any way unpleasant.
    So, she’s got that going for her.Which is nice.

  16. Paratrooper18 says:

    So she is finding out that nobody who was on her payroll is willing to go to jail for her.. well maybe her mom will.

  17. Picayune says:

    So, is this the complaint filed by the DEGOP or another one?

    phil, best guess this is from the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington’s complaint. They sent notice to the FEC and the US Attorney in Delaware.

    We don’t know enough yet to know the exact complaint. My guess is that it came from the CREW complaint, which was based on her recent filings and old ones. I believe CREW pointed out that she used campaign money to pay for bowling, gas and food after the 2008 campaign. The AP says the report came from a lawyer of someone interviewed in the probe.

    This investigation is based neither on the CREW complaint nor the FEC complaint. This is an investigation started by the FBI of it’s own accord, and a much more serious investigation into COD’s finances than the CREW or FEC complaints.

  18. phil says:

    do tell…

  19. The prosecutors are on a witch hunt!

  20. nemski says:

    I can’t wait for the witch trial.

  21. MJ says:

    DP has a post up with one of the Kool Aid drinkers claiming that “they’re out to destroy her.”

  22. Picayune,

    Any idea when the investigation started and what prompted it?

  23. bamboozer says:

    This Atheist declares it a four days after Christmas Miracle! And potentially a lot of fun.Next the Koch Brothers will want thier money back.

  24. Picayune says:

    I am not sure exactly why the FBI got involved, but I suspect that they keep up with the news and decided that this was investigation worthy. The FBI would never get involved in the CREW or FEC complaints.

  25. Polemical says:

    COD should be investigated. Thousands of citizens run state-wide campaigns for high elected office without using graft. The problem is, like most politically motivated investigations (e.g., Blogo, Gordon-Freeberry, etc.), it is very difficult to prove wrongdoing in a court of law.

    Many supporters, outsiders and Tea Party folk will defend her vigorously. However, she should legitimately be investigated so that others will get the message not to circumvent FEC law for personal gain.

    She has always been a chameleon. She is delusional and seeks fame and fortune at the expense of others. Indeed, many people who seek elected office make financial mistakes; however, O’Donnell’s shennanigans go well beyond the norm. She spins everything and will exaggerate and even lie to get what she wants through hubris and conceit. If she truly wants to serve the people, she should go the route of Alvin Greene in S.C. Try a lesser office. If the electorate rejects you, so be it.

  26. Clear Thinker says:

    Seems to me that the corrupt and politicized Obama/Holder inJustice Department is engaged in a partisan witch hunt against political opponents in an effort to destroy political opponents.

    After all — there has been no investigation of the illegal donations to the 2008 Obama Presidential campaign.

  27. MJ says:

    FBI is part of the Justice Department. They usually investigate Federal crimes.

    And it appears that “Clear Thinker” had a little bit too much to drink or smoke today. Hmmm, as compared to the Bush DOJ, any politics being played by the current administration’s AG is nothing.

  28. jpconnorjr says:

    CT I have been amused by your posts here and on the Vick thread. I would however, suggest a slight name Change to “Clearly a Dumb Ass”
    That is all.

  29. Dana Garrett says:

    If you have spent any time talking to COD (I have), you’d know that an insanity defense is feasible in her case. She lives in lala land.

  30. Delaware Libertarian says:

    Thank you FBI, putting O’Donnell may be the only thing that could save the Delaware Republican from extinction. I couldn’t imagine what would happen if she ran again.

  31. The NJ has the O’Donnell response:

    The case, which has been assigned to two federal prosecutors and two FBI agents in Delaware, has not been sent to a grand jury,. O’Donnell said Wednesday neither she, nor her campaign manager or attorney, have been contacted by federal investigators. “I don’t know if an FBI investigation even exists,” O’Donnell told The News Journal. “If it is happening, of course we’re going to cooperate, because we have nothing to hide.” O’Donnell said the FBI and Federal Election Commission investigations were an attempt by her political adversaries in the Democratic and Republican parties to destroy her credibility. “The ongoing investigation does the damage, and that’s what they’re intending to do to me,” said O’Donnell, who is currently writing a book about her campaign.

  32. capesdelaware says:

    Dear Clear Thinker ,We have nothing to fear from her .She took her best shot and got 40 % of vote .We do not need to destroy her. She did it to herself .