Nov 01, 2011
Tea Party Candidate Rob Cornilles Takes Thousands from House Republican Leaders
Once again, Tea Party congressional candidate Rob Cornilles is saying one thing and doing another. Cornilles, who stated during the 2010 election he wouldn’t take money from the Republican leadership because he did “not want to be beholden to them,” accepted thousands from Republican leaders in Washington, DC. According to his recent FEC filings, Cornilles accepted campaign contributions from House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, National Republican Congressional Committee Chair Pete Sessions and even ethically-challenged NRCC Finance Vice-Chairman Vern Buchanan, who is currently under federal investigation by the Department of Justice and the Office of Congressional Ethics for an “extensive and ongoing” campaign finance scheme.
“Oregon voters just can’t trust Tea Party candidate Rob Cornilles, who continues to pose as a moderate while quietly taking money from the same Republican leaders he claims he’s not beholden to,” said Amber Moon, Western Regional Press Secretary at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Rob Cornilles claims to be independent, but when it comes down to it, Cornilles would be just another vote for the extreme House Republican agenda that would end Medicare, privatize Social Security and protect tax breaks for millionaires and Big Oil.”
This hypocrisy is nothing new for Cornilles though, who had already accepted $5,000 from the National Republican Congressional Committee before he told voters “there are many Republican candidates around the country who have taken money from the Republican Party, I have not. Because I do not want to be beholden to them.”
Background:
Cornilles Said He Had Not Taken Money from the Republican Party Because He Did Not Want to Be Beholden to Them. In 2010, Cornilles said “So I’ve already said to the Republican leadership, you know, what I have just suggested to you now. And, I have not, uh…there are many Republican candidates around the country who have taken money from the Republican Party, I have not. Because I do not want to be beholden to them.” [Yamhill Candidate Forum, 10/9/10]
2011: Cornilles Received Thousands from National Republican Leadership. On October 18, 2011, Rep. Vern Buchanan’s Vote to Elect Republicans Now PAC gave Cornilles a $250 donation. Buchanan was listed as the Vice Chairman of finance for the National Republican Congressional Committee. On October 24, 2011 Cornilles received $2,000 from Pete Sessions For Congress. Sessions is the Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee. On October 6, 2011, Cornilles received $5,000 from Eric Cantor’s PAC Every Republican Is Crucial. [FEC, Cornilles for Congress, Filed 10/27/11; FEC, Cornilles For Congress, filed 10/25/11; NRCC, accessed 10/31/11]
2010: Cornilles Received Money from National Republicans and Sessions. In 2010, Cornilles received $2,500 from Rep. Sessions’ PAC, and $5,000 from the National Republican Congressional Committee. [Open Secrets, accessed 10/18/11; Open Secrets, accessed 10/18/11; FEC, National Republican Congressional Committee, 9/22/10]
Vern Buchanan is Under Investigation by the Department of Justice and Office of Congressional Ethics. In 2011, it was reported that Buchanan was under investigation by the Justice Department and Office of Congressional Ethics. “Rep. Vern Buchanan is under investigation by the Justice Department for allegations that he asked a former business associate to reimburse employees who made donations to his campaign account, a local paper reported. The Bradenton Herald, which is based in the Republican’s western Florida district, first reported that the DOJ was investigating whether Buchanan, a former car dealership owner, asked his associate, Sam Kazran, to encourage employees to make straw donations to the lawmaker.” The Florida Independent also reported, “The House of Representatives’ Office of Congressional Ethics has launched a ‘preliminary’ investigation into Rep. Vern Buchanan, R- Sarasota.” [Politico, 10/18/11; Florida Independent, 10/25/11]
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