An advocacy organization is urging donors to seek refunds for contributions they made to Graham Platner’s Senate campaign following the Democratic nominee’s withdrawal from the race after multiple sexual misconduct allegations.
Reckoning Action, an organization founded by attorney and activist Cheyenne Hunt, sent text messages to Platner’s donors encouraging them to request refunds for their campaign contributions.
“If you donated to Graham Platner and feel betrayed, you’re not alone. You signed up to help elect a champion for freedom and equality and take back the Senate — not to fund a predator,” one text message read.
A webpage created by the organization similarly tells donors, “If you feel betrayed, you are not alone,” before providing instructions on how to recover their money.
Platner withdrew from Maine’s Senate race after winning the Democratic nomination. Throughout his campaign, he faced allegations of rape and other sexual misconduct, which he has denied.
Hunt launched Reckoning Action earlier this year after sexual assault allegations surfaced against former Democratic California Rep. Eric Swalwell. Several women, including a former staffer, accused Swalwell of sexual assault, allegations he has denied. Federal Election Commission filings show Swalwell’s campaign paid $50,000 to defense attorney Sara Azari.
Platner reported $1.7 million in cash on hand at the end of last month, according to the most recent FEC filings. Hunt said she is concerned those funds could ultimately be used “against these survivors,” in a statement to NOTUS.
Many Democratic donors contribute through ActBlue, which allows refunds within 90 days of a donation. Reckoning Action advised donors whose contributions fall outside that window to contact ActBlue directly or request a refund from Platner’s campaign.
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Federal election law prohibits campaign funds from being used for personal expenses, but the FEC permits candidates to use campaign money to pay legal expenses related to campaign activity “where such expenses would not have occurred had the individual not been a candidate or officeholder.” Current law does not explicitly prohibit candidates or elected officials from using campaign funds to defend against sexual misconduct allegations.
As Reckoning Action presses donors to seek refunds, the organization is also pushing for changes to federal law. On Tuesday, Reps. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) introduced the No Campaign Funded Cover-Ups Act, which would prohibit federal candidates and officeholders from using campaign funds to pay legal expenses related to sexual misconduct claims.