Exclusive: Ethics complaint accuses Community for All of operating as a dark money political machine

The Wausonian received a copy of the complaint hours after it was filed.

A complaint filed with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission Tuesday accuses the “Community for All” organization as operating as a dark money political machine, helping to fundraise for and promote candidates without registering as a political action committee and making financial disclosure statements as required by law.

The Wausonian received a redacted copy of the complaint from a confidential source shortly after it was filed with the state.

According to the complaint, Community for All:

has regularly coordinated with candidate committees, engaged in express advocacy, provided goods and services to candidate committees, and are more likely than not, operating as a political committee that has provided unlawful contributions to candidate committees, or has failed to register as a political committee and properly report expenditures and comply with source restrictions and contribution limits.

The complaint says CFA, as the report refers to the organization, has “regularly endorsed candidates and political parties, organized parades for and with candidates, and distributed campaign material on behalf of candidate committees.” The includes the coordination of a parade walk and distribution of candidate T-shirts. The organization on its website also mentions specifically supporting candidates and policies.

CFA during previous elections ran surveys of candidates and put out an endorsement list advocating for certain candidates. They’ve created similar checklists for the primary and spring elections this year.

The complaint alleges that CFA did all that without being registered as a political action committee or independent expenditure committee with the WEC, the IRS or the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions.

One event the complaint specifically singles out is a fundraising dinner held at commercial building not otherwise open to the public earlier this month. According to the complaint the Mardi Gras Fundraiser was “hosted by Community for All in support of Katie’s re-election campaign” and entry to the event comprised donations to Rosenberg’s campaign.

A graphic created for the fundraiser hosts both CFA and Katie for Us and lists fundraising levels, including $500 for HOLY BALLS! and $775 for THE GOAT. A Facebook post on Rosenberg for Wausau’s page reads: “Hosted by CFA - A Community For All and in support of Katie's re-election campaign.”

The complaint argues that its allegations, along with the exhibits provided to support it, prove that the organization qualifies both as a political action committee and an independent expenditure committee, both of which have reporting requirements under state law. And, it alleges, CFA did not follow those reporting requirements

The Wausonian reached out via the email address included in the complaint to the Community for All organization laying out the allegations and offering a chance to respond. This publication did not receive a response prior to the 8 pm deadline given. It appears they blocked me on Facebook, as I am unable to see any of their content on that platform or reach out via that platform either.

The Wausonian will publish a followup response if one is received.

Sources familiard with the matter told The Wausonian that CFA representatives likely don’t have a copy of the complaint yet, but would expect to receive it five days after it was filed on Tuesday.

Update: The Wausonian received a statement from CFA:

CFA, A Community for All, is a grassroots community group that was created when the Marathon County Board of Supervisors was debating the resolution of the same name. Per our Facebook page, which is public, our mission is activism and allyship to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion. To that end, we pay close attention to local political races and identify candidates who support the values we care about. This occasionally includes organizing fundraisers for candidates, but has never included accepting donations on behalf of any candidate nor do we act as a conduit for collecting donations. Donations made by CFA members are made by those individuals and recorded by the various campaigns as such. There is no “dark money” coming from CFA. In fact, CFA as a group has no money at all.

Signed, 

The Community For All Steering Committee;

Christine Salm, Amie Leonoff, Patrick Bacher, Cynthia DuChateau Schaefer, Jeff Johnson, Jane Rusch. 

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