Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez appears unfazed that she or her chief of staff could face jail time over a political action committee (PAC) both of them seem to have control over.
“You know what? If someone faces murder, you can face jail time. But we didn’t do it — like, there’s nothing here. So it’s fine,” Ocasio-Cortez told The Daily Caller. (RELATED: Ocasio-Cortez And Her Chief Of Staff ‘Could Be Facing Jail Time’ If Their Control Over PAC Was Intentionally Hidden, Former FEC Commissioner Says)
U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) speaks during a news conference for a proposed “Green New Deal” to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in 10 years, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S. February 7, 2019. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo
Ocasio-Cortez along with her Chief of Staff Saikat Chakrabarti gained majority control of Justice Democrats PAC in December 2017, The Daily Caller News Foundation first reported from archived copies of the organization’s website.
If the Federal Election Commission (FEC) finds that Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign operated in affiliation with the PAC, which had raised more than $1.8 million before her June 2018 primary, it would open them up to “massive reporting violations, probably at least some illegal contribution violations exceeding the lawful limits,” former FEC Commissioner Brad Smith told TheDCNF.
Smith added, that if “a complaint were filed, I would think it would trigger a serious investigation” and could possibly lead to prison time for Ocasio-Cortez and her chief of staff.
When asked by a reporter if she was considering firing Chakrabarti, the New York Democrat responded, “Absolutely not. There’s been extensive checking on this already. It’s totally fine. This is something that’s been filed by a Republican organization. There’s nothing here.”
She continued, “All of it is grassroots donations so it’s really- I don’t think there’s anything that’s here.”
Kerry Picket is a host on SiriusXM Patriot125
