A Closer Look At Cruz's Keep The Promise, Carly Fiorina, and Sarah Flores (ray76)

Mar 27, 2016 | Ray76

[Ray76]

In an attempt understand the allegation that Cruz paid "hush money" to Sarah Flores via Carly Fiorina I've researched filings available on the FEC website. The research is not 100% complete but I think there's enough to say "maybe", meaning it's not out of the question. There's enough here to warrant further investigation.

I'll try to provide updates, motivation and time permitting.

- - -

Claim: The ($500K, excerpted) money from the Fiorina campaign was laundered through a company called MLJ Consulting. Nearly half of the money spent on ads, over $251,795, was paid to MLJ Consulting. On top of that, MLJ Consulting received an additional $271,152 for services described in FEC reports as “Political Strategy Consulting/Staff Management” or “Political Strategy Consulting/Travel.” (The FEC is currently requesting coordinating information on the payments and deposits left out in the filing by the Fiorina campaign.)

So: 252K + 271K = aprx $523K From Fiorina to MLJ.

Supporting documentation:

Payer                     Payee                       Amount   Reference
-----------------------   -----------------------   --------   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Keep the Promise          Carly for America         $500,000   http://docquery.fec.gov/pdf/144/201507319000522144/201507319000522144.pdf  
Carly for America         Unlocking Potential PAC   $104,000   https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pac2pac.php?cycle=2016&cmte=C00564534  
Carly for President       Unlocking Potential PAC    $30,000   http://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/contrib.php?cycle=2016&cmte=C00564534and    
Unlocking Potential PAC   MLJ Consulting            $100,500   https://www.opensecrets.org/expends/vendor.php?year=2016&vendor=Mlj+Consulting
Carly for President       MLJ Consulting              $5,724   https://www.opensecrets.org/expends/vendor.php?year=2016&vendor=Mlj+Consulting

MLJ has received aprx $106,000 from Fiorina and affialtes. This is far less than the $523,000 claimed.

Conclusion: Maybe. More research is needed.

- - -

Claim: The payments to MLJ from the PAC Unlocking Potential have continued into the current campaign cycle. Nearly half of the $210,656 the super PAC has spent has been paid to MLJ Consulting, mostly for “Political Strategy Consulting/Staff Management.”

Supporting documentation: http://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/C00564534/1019819/sb/ALL

Conclusion: True, Unlocking Potential PAC paid MLJ Consulting aprx $100,000 in the first quarter of 2015

- - -

Claim: Sarah Isgur Flores received a one-time payroll check of $3,582 from Unlocking Potential PAC, which she joined in February 2015 after leaving the Republican National Committee.

Supporting documentation: http://docquery.fec.gov/pdf/432/201507319000510432/201507319000510432.pdf    http://www.politico.com/story/2015/05/carly-fiorina-2016-campaign-staff-power-players-117606

Conclusion: True, Flores did receive a payroll check from Unlocking Potential PAC in the amount of $3,582. She did work at the RNC as deputy communications director.

- - -

Claim: Two months later, she was paid $148,375 by Carly for America, the super PAC. (Note: Carly for America was previously named Conservative, Authentic, Responsive Leadership for You and For America, sometimes referred to as C.A.R.L.Y. for America)

Supporting documentation: http://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/C00573154/1019958/sb/ALL

Conclusion: Not proven. Flores was paid by Carly For America the amount of $48,375 not $148,375. Where is the $100,000 difference, is the claim false or is my research deficient? Did Carly For President pay Flores? MLJ? ** More research is needed **

- - -

Claim: And one week after that, Flores received an in-kind payment of $12,700 from the Fiorina campaign.

Supporting documentation: http://docquery.fec.gov/pres/2015/YE/C00577312/B_PAYEE_C00577312.html

Conclusion: Plausible, Flores is listed has having received payments from the Fiorina campaign in 2015: $24,321 and $91, more than what is claimed.

- - -

Claim: She then began receiving biweekly payroll checks of $10,052 as the deputy director of Fiorina’s campaign.

Supporting documentation: http://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/C00577312/1015551/sb/ALL    http://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/C00577312/1029240/sb/ALL    http://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/C00577312/1046958/sb/ALL    http://www.politico.com/story/2015/05/carly-fiorina-2016-campaign-staff-power-players-117606

Conclusion: False. Flores received biweekly payroll checks from Carly For President in the amount of $4053, not $10,052. Was she on the payroll of an affiliated committee (Carly For America? ** More research is needed **), does that account for the difference? She was deputy campaign manager for the Fiorina campaign.

- - -

Claim: This is the most reasonable manner that the 'Hush Money' was paid by Keep the Promise I. (The Ted Cruz Super PAC Operation!)

Supporting documentation: see above

Conclusion: Maybe the claim of money being funneled from Cruz to Flores via Keep the Promise and various Fiorina groups is true. The research is inconclusive. One thing I think we can say is that it's not out of the question. There's enough here to warrant further investigation.

Keep the Promise paid Carly for America $500,000.

Carly for President payroll paid at least $61,000 to Flores and Carly and affiliated groups together paid a total of aprx $75,000 non-payroll. All together that totals $136,000. (Did MLJ also make payments to Flores? Another topic to research.)

All this may or may not mean a thing.

I weary of looking at this and now pass the baton to others.

[tflabo]

The date of payout is interesting too— 06/08/15
Thats early on in the game.

[Bubba Gump Shrimp]

If you don’t support Ted you hate America and you hate baby Jesus

/s

[hoosiermama]

.......”More research needed”

[opus1]

Exactly. And for every “fact” on the internet there are countless things not on the internet. Research is not running thru websites with a calculator.

[tflabo]

Makes one wonder what really was the reason that Carly endorsed Cruz. Sure she hates Trump but did she ‘owe it’ to Ted? Just food for thought speculations.

[ncalburt]

You realize this funds transfers are illegal !
Where is the FEC ?
Where is Fox Left wing news and all those
other Murdoch propaganda outlets ?
We know that answer !

[bigbob]

Wow! I scratched around only enough to see that a lot of work would be required to do what you’ve done, so I can understand your weariness.

The $100K discrepancy is really odd. One would hope that these required legal disclosures would be more accurate than plus-or-minus 100K ;-) Which amount is correct, that’s the question. And assuming there was “hush money”, are these people not clever enough to find a way of laundering that through a trusted vendor or two, knowing all these payments are subject to disclosure.

[hoosiermama]

Has anyone checked to see if Carly’s picture matches any of those pixated photos at NE? ;-)

[napscoordinator]

Just the thought of $136K going to anyone working less then a year should be questioned no matter what other events took place.

[Sasparilla]

The next time Ted asks for a contribution, ask him why the $500,000 contribution?

[ncalburt]

Laundering money between two dirty money
PACs is normal for Ted Bush trash & smear campaign

[bigbob]

Oddly enough I'd just been looking at MLJ Consulting before coming here and reading your comment.

Have a look at this:

https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2015/11/opaque-payment-streams-for-two-top-consultants-to-fiorina-groups/

This does not mention Hobbs, but does shine a light into the inner workings of these things that most of us have a very simplistic view of. It seems clear there are games to be played and political operatives are masters at it.

Consider this graphic in the context of Ray's excellent work here and how some of the discrepancies notes might be clarified with additional research

[Parley Baer]

“Maybe when I get another e-mail from the Cruz campaign asking for contributions I will reply as to why 500/k was given to fund competitor Carly’s campaign?”

Hahahaha, that is a good one.

[No Socialist]

If this is true, both Cruz and Fiorina are pretty sleazy.

[mabelkitty]

Excellent work!
Thank you!
Maybe Carli kept the $100K for going to the trouble.

What you have here are government flunkies who can’t do math and have no motivation to uncover anything that would cause them to lose their jobs.

We are at the point in American where we just work to support the government

[bigbob]

I forgot to add that MLJ Consulting is run by Sadler out of his home address.

And it’s worth noting that Sarah Isgur (Flores) name appears in this article that was posted in Nov. 2015, months before the #CubanMistressScandal exploded.

[mrpotatohead]

I think you have a weeeee bit too much time on your hands.

[cradle of freedom]

And you’ll make Glenn Beck cry.

[Leo Carpathian]

Non eligible, not Natural Born Citizen, Cuban-Canadian, Pinocchio Ted attacking Big Donald at CNN freestyle match.

Cruz "character":

1. Phony summonses mailed out, scaring people to vote for Cruz.

2. Claiming Carson quit, presinc captains told voters "vote for Cruz"

3. Campaigning in the 800 churches, showing video "vote for me" with his preacher/father stomping for him. Rafael Cruz is a Seven Mountain Dominionist and believes his son is the anointed one.

4. "Brilliant" lawyer, did not know he was Canadian citizen and that he is not Natural Born Citizen, not eligible for office of P or VP.

5. Making phony video advertising with lies about opponents.

Just enough to beat Trump in IA, apologize, rinse and repeat?
Liar is the polite term for this Cuban. His father was pro-communist in Cuba, imprisoned by Batista, but now he is refugee?

IRREFUTABLE AUTHORITY HAS SPOKEN

(Oct. 18, 2009) The Post & Email has in several articles mentioned that the Supreme Court of the United States has given the definition of what a "natural born citizen" is. Since being a natural born citizen is an objective qualification and requirement of office for the U.S. President (and VP), it is important for all U.S. Citizens to understand what this term means.

http://www.thepostemail.com/2009/10/18/4-supreme-court-cases-define-natural-born-citizen/

[visualops]

what’s rather odd, is that the 4 Keep the Promise PACs have not spent much money on Ted Cruz. The guy with all the money behind KTP I also gave Fiorina another contribution earlier.