For Immediate Release:
Aug. 25, 2010
CONTACT: Ryan Hobart
573-636-5241, rhobart@missouridems.org
Missouri Democratic Party Files FEC Complaint:
Call to Investigate Coordination Between Karl Rove’s Front Group and Congressman Blunt’s Campaign
Karl Rove’s Out-of-State Group Spending Big Oil Cash on Blunt’s Behalf
Jefferson City - Today, the Missouri Democratic Party will file a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission against Karl Rove’s front group Crossroads GPS and U.S. Senate Candidate Congressman Roy Blunt. The complaint centers around illegal coordination between Congressman Blunt’s campaign and Karl Rove’s special interest front group who is currently running political attack on Blunt’s behalf.
Both Congressman Blunt’s campaign and Karl Rove’s Crossroads GPS front group may have committed numerous violations of federal election law including (see full FEC complaint attached):
- Rove’s Crossroads GPS May Have Made, and Blunt May Have Accepted, an Illegal In-Kind Contribution
- Rove’s Crossroads GPS May Have Failed to Register as a Political Committee with the FEC
- Blunt and Rove’s Crossroads GPS May Have Failed to Properly Report Coordinated Communications
The Missouri Democratic Party is calling on the FEC to investigate the above violations, assess any fines necessary and enjoin Roy Blunt and Karl Rove’s Crossroads GPS group from further violations.
“It is one thing for Karl Rove and Congressman Blunt to use their shady out-of-state political tricks to try and deceive Missourians,” said Missouri Democratic Party Communications Director Ryan Hobart. “It is absolutely unacceptable for Congressman Blunt and Karl Rove to try and find a backdoor to let out-of-state Big Oil and special interest cash fund inappropriate political attack ads here in Missouri.”
Congressman Blunt recently brought Karl Rove out to Missouri for an elite special interest fundraiser. During his time in Missouri, Karl Rove recorded a web ad for Blunt - paid for by the Blunt campaign. Rove’s web ad was focused on health care - the very same issue that his front-group, American Crossroads, is now spending nearly $1 million on in TV ads across the state. [Kansas City Star, 11/30/02; CQ Today, 8/31/04; Real Clear Politics, 7/1/10]
Karl Rove founded American Crossroads and he has been actively raising funds for the organization, and because Congressman Blunt and Karl Rove continue to maintain their close political ties the Missouri Democratic Party believes there was coordination between the two individuals that could violate federal law. It has been reported that Blunt and Rove spoke about political strategy on a weekly basis when Congressman Blunt was in the GOP leadership and Rove served in the White House. [Politico, 5/20/10; New York Times, 5/23/10; Kansas City Star, 11/30/02]