The Nevada State Democratic Party has another receipt showing Sen. Dean Heller is still receiving illegal donations through a cheap family discount on services provided by his son’s Utah-based music production company, Heller Enterprises LLC. On their latest fundraising report filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), Heller’s Senate campaign reported paying Heller’s son’s company another $2,500, which appears to be a similar rate to what the campaign accidentally admitted was a “cheap discount” and “below market rate” in May. This comes after the Heller campaign reported paying Heller’s son’s company an additional $5,000 in the pre-primary reporting period.
In an attempt to defend these ethically questionable payments in May, Heller’s campaign made the problem worse when they admitted they received corporate services at a “cheap discount.” Corporations are strictly prohibited from donating to federal campaign committees, and these in-kind contributions were never reported to the FEC. Heller Enterprises is not a paid vendor for any other federal campaign. The NV Dems filed a formal complaint with the FEC over Heller’s re-election campaign and his son admitting to violating campaign finance laws based on these payments.
Heller’s campaign has now paid Heller’s son’s company a total of $60,000 under this arrangement that appears to be illegal.
BACKGROUND
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The Daily Beast: Heller Campaign Accidentally Cops to Illegal Corporate Contribs
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Las Vegas Review-Journal: Dems say work by Dean Heller’s son violates campaign law
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KOH Reno: Nevada Dems Say Heller Admitted Campaign Law Violations
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Reno Gazette-Journal: Sen. Dean Heller paid son at least $52,500 in campaign cash for social media consulting
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Associated Press: Heller’s son paid $52,000 by campaign for social media work
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HuffPost: Sen. Dean Heller’s Campaign Paid His Social Media Influencer Son More Than $50,000
Heller For Senate Paid Heller Enterprises $2,500 Dollars For Social Media Services On 5/31/18. [Federal Election Commission, Heller for Senate, Quarter Two Report, 7/23/18]
DATE |
ORGANIZATION |
RECIPIENT |
PAGE NUMBER |
AMOUNT |
5/31/18 |
Heller for Senate |
Heller Enterprises |
454 |