Mitchell Wade Fined $1,000,000

Many of you will remember Mitchell Wade from the 2006 campaign. His name came up in the campaigns of Rep. Virgil Goode and Rep. Katharine Harris. Harris, in particular, famously had a $2,800 dinner tab picked up by Wade -- she claimed her meal was only about $100.

But the more serious allegation was that Wade violated federal election law by funneling contributions to these candidates. Finally, today, the FEC announced that Mitchell Wade and MZM, the company involved, agreed to pay a million dollar fine, "the second largest penalty ever paid in the 32-year history of the FEC."

As TPM Muckraker adds, "the settlement was a result of a complaint from watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington." And here's more from TPM Muckraker:

The fine is for reimbursing employees at his firm MZM for $78,000 in contributions they made to Rep. Virgil Goode (R-VA) and ex-Rep. Katharine Harris (R-FL). Another MZM exec, Richard Berglund, got hit with a $42,000 fine. Both of them have already pled guilty to criminal charges for the scheme. Berglund was sentenced earlier this year to a year of probation and $5,000 in fines. Wade continues to cooperate with the government in its ongoing investigation of his bribery activities, recently testifying against fellow contractor Brent Wilkes at his trial.

Comments (5) «

Even with the Bush administration choking the Justice Department so they wouldn't go after their contributors, the charges of bribery are finally surfacing anyway. Note that the guilty get fines not prison sentences. How sweet.

1

SandyH on November 1, 2007 at 03:16 PM

May our brillant couple, Hillary and Bill Clinton be safe from any mistakes or may they have already corrected any mistakes so we will see them in the WhiteHouse fixing all the mess the Republicans have made by giving Bush a blank check to do anything he wants encluding over extending his power. I know the Lord will find a way for Hillary to be our next President!

2

freeforall on November 2, 2007 at 05:32 PM

freeforall:

What Lord are you talking about?

3

_MarthaA on November 5, 2007 at 10:54 AM

freeforall:

There are many Lords, I think you were thinking more of Lord Carnarvon, weren't you?

http://www.egyptvoyager.com/articles_curseofmummy.htm

4

_MarthaA on November 5, 2007 at 11:32 AM

freeforall:

Also, here is more information on Lord Carnarvon:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Herbert,_5th_Earl_of_Carnarvon

5

_MarthaA on November 5, 2007 at 01:21 PM

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