OAKDALE LEADER: Eggman Involved In Bera Campaign Funds Scandal
Questions surrounding Ami Bera’s campaign finances have expanded to include Democrat Michael Eggman, who is running again in CA-10. The Oakdale Leader found that Eggman and Babulal Bera, who recently pleaded guilty to election fraud, engaged in donations of the exact same amount within seven days of one another in 2013. This was Eggman’s only contribution to a candidate in the 2014 cycle. From the Leader:
Federal Election Commission filed papers from Michael Eggman’s failed 2014 congressional campaign for California’s 10th Congressional District show that on June 23, 2013 ‘Eggman for Congress 2014’ donated $1,000 to the ‘Bera for Congress’ campaign. Seven days later, on June 30, 2013, Babulal Bera donated $1,000 back to ‘Eggman for Congress 2014.’
Additionally, records show Eggman’s contribution to Bera’s campaign was the only campaign contribution from his committee that was made to any candidate.
These revelations raise many questions:
Was Eggman promised a reciprocal donation?
Did Michael Eggman coordinate this donation with Ami Bera? With Babulal Bera himself?
Why did Eggman choose to donate to Bera’s campaign and no others?
Has the FBI contacted Eggman?
NRCC Comment: “After Ami Bera’s father pleaded guilty to illegally reimbursing donors, these newest revelations suggest that Ami Bera’s campaign finance scandal goes deeper than anyone previously thought. With Michael Eggman and Babulal Bera’s donations coming within just seven days of one another, this exchange clearly appears to be coordinated. Eggman needs to come clean with 10th District voters about exactly how involved he was with the Bera network.” – NRCC Spokesman Zach Hunter
Eggman Involved In Bera Campaign Funds Scandal
Oakdale Leader
By Richard Paloma
May 25, 2016
http://www.oakdaleleader.com/section/44/article/17095/
In obtained public records, The Leader has discovered that Michael Eggman, a current candidate for California’s 10th Congressional District, is possibly involved in the Ami Bera campaign contribution scandal that is seeing Bera’s father, Babulal Bera, possibly serve up to a five-year prison sentence for election fraud involving the finances of his son’s campaign.
Federal court papers in the matter showed Babulal Bera was responsible for a scheme that after he made the maximum allowable individual contributions to his son’s run for office; he then recruited others to make maximum contributions. In return Babulal Bera would “refund” the amount back to the contributors in violation of campaign finance laws
Federal Election Commission filed papers from Michael Eggman’s failed 2014 congressional campaign for California’s 10th Congressional District show that on June 23, 2013 ‘Eggman for Congress 2014’ donated $1,000 to the ‘Bera for Congress’ campaign. Seven days later, on June 30, 2013, Babulal Bera donated $1,000 back to ‘Eggman for Congress 2014.’
Additionally, records show Eggman’s contribution to Bera’s campaign was the only campaign contribution from his committee that was made to any candidate.
“I wasn’t here during that time,” said Eggman Campaign Manager Josh Lord, when informed of the discovery on May 25.
“Though the 2013 contribution to the Eggman campaign from the elder Mr. Bera was a legal contribution, given the recent news, we are donating his contribution to Planned Parenthood to fight back against Jeff Denham’s assault on women’s healthcare access,” Eggman campaign.spokeman Robert Phillips said later in the day.
Phillips added that the contribution was “in stark contrast” to Denham accepting over $8,000 from Harry Baker after Baker was accused of sexual assault of a minor.
Ami Bera was elected to the 7th Congressional District in 2012 and re-elected in 2014. The charges his father faces apparently stem from activities allegedly begun while Bera was running against incumbent Republican Rep. Dan Lungren in 2010. Bera contributors gave at least $235,000 to a campaign committee and Babulal Bera later illegally refunded the amounts to contributors.
Read the full piece here.