After Cortez Masto got scorched for her special interest-funded travel and her dangerous embrace of President Obama’s failed national security policies, the Democrat-affiliated Senate Majority PAC began a digital ad campaign on her behalf today.
There’s just one problem: one of Cortez Masto’s key advisors is a high-ranking official at Senate Majority PAC. This arrangement suggests a major conflict of interest and could indicate a violation of campaign finance laws. As an independent expenditure committee, Senate Majority PAC is barred from coordinating with candidates and campaigns.
Rebecca Lambe, Harry Reid’s Top Political Adviser, Is Advising Catherine Cortez Masto’s Campaign.
“Although Reid does not have a close personal relationship with the former Nevada attorney general, she received a call from him the morning of his retirement announcement urging her to run for his seat. The move prompted the DSCC to get behind Cortez Masto and sent a message to other potential challengers — such as Rep. Dina Titus — to think long and hard before getting in. Reid’s team — including his closest political adviser, Rebecca Lambe — is helping Cortez Masto prepare for a tough challenge from Heck.” (Manu Raju, “Harry Reid’s Final Campaign,” Politico, 7/7/15)
Rebecca Lambe Is The Treasurer Of Senate Majority PAC On FEC Filings. (Senate Majority PAC, FEC Filing, 12/17/15)
Lambe Serves As A Senior Adviser And Member Of Senate Majority PAC’s Executive Board.
“Rebecca Lambe, Susan McCue and J.B. Poersch will all continue serving as senior advisers and members of the PAC’s executive board, according to a release provided first to CQ Roll Call. All three are top Democratic operatives with ties to Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. Lambe is a former top strategist to Reid’s 2010 campaign, while McCue is a co-founder of the PAC and one of Reid’s closest confidants. Poersch, also a co-founder of Senate Majority PAC, served as executive director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee from 2005 through 2010.” (Emily Cahn, “Exclusive: Senate Majority PAC Announces Senior Staff,” Roll Call, 7/9/15)
This wouldn’t be the first time Senate Majority PAC found itself in trouble for their shady practices. With her key advisor helping to call the shots at Harry Reid’s political arm, it’s worth asking – did Catherine Cortez Masto inappropriately coordinate with Senate Majority PAC?