Collecting $3 million from his constituents and $77,000 from his scam Progressives United PAC just wasn’t enough for him.
So, as he killed some time before he could run for office again, Senator Feingold decided to make a new living by ripping off colleges and universities.
When confronted by the Beloit Daily News about why he wouldn’t consider waiving his exorbitant speaking fees, Senator Feingold explained that he "had no job, that was my living":
…Feingold addressed accusations by Johnson of charging $450,000 to 17 universities for speaking engagements and guest lectures. "I didn’t charge anybody anything, I was hired and asked to teach by Beloit College, Marquette University, Stanford and Lawrence," Feingold said. "They contacted me and said we’d like to pay you this much if you would please come and teach, so I did." When asked if he had given any consideration to waiving those fees, Feingold said simply "I had no job, that was my living, I’m not a millionaire so that was my income."
Senator Feingold, who pocketed $450,000 from the campus speaking circuit and demanded first class airfare along the way, wants Wisconsinites to believe that he "didn’t charge anybody anything."
The college students he now pretends to care about might beg to differ.
FEINGOLD FLASHBACK:
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Since Leaving Office, Feingold Has Earned At Least $450,000 From Salaries And Honoraria From Colleges And Universities. (Russ Feingold, 2012 Personal Financial Disclosure Form, Filed 7/11/13; Russ Feingold, 2013 Personal Financial Disclosure Form, Filed 5/28/14; Russ Feingold, 2014 Personal Financial Disclosure Form, Filed 4/17/15; Russ Feingold, 2015 Personal Financial Disclosure Form, Filed 5/29/15; Russ Feingold, 2015 Personal Financial Disclosure Form, Filed 5/15/16)
- In 2015, Feingold Was Compensated $150,000 For Teaching Two Courses At Stanford University For 19 Classes, Approximately $7,895 Per Class. (Russ Feingold, 2015 Personal Financial Disclosure Form, Filed 5/15/16)
In October 2012, Feingold Spoke At Kansas State University, Where Kansas State Paid For First Class Airfare For Feingold, Despite Asking Him To Make His Travel Arrangements “Economically”:
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On February 6, 2012, Kansas State Told Random House Speakers Bureau The University Would Pay For Coach Airfare And Asked For Feingold’s Travel Arrangements To Be Made “Economically” Due To “Our Modest Budget.” “The Lou Douglas Lectures can arrange and pay for coach airfare, travel, lodging and meals in Manhattan and an honorarium upon completion of the lecture. … Should you choose to make your own coach airline reservations, we will reimburse you for those expenses upon submission of the original ticket receipts. This also takes about four weeks. Because of our modest budget, we ask that you make these travel arrangements as economically as possible.” (“Firm Offer Form,” From UFM Community Learning Center, Kansas State University, To Random House Speakers Bureau, 2/6/12)
- In The Final Agreement, Kansas State Agreed To Pay For First-Class Airfare For Feingold. “Sponsor to pay for roundtrip, first-class refundable airfare which will be arranged and booked by RHSB and invoiced to sponsor.” (“Customer Agreement,” Between Random House Speakers Bureau And UFM Community Learning Center, Kansas State University, 2/29/12)