An upstart political committee is grappling with the consequences of mixing money and friendship.
In a letter to the Federal Election Commission last week, the Existentialist Republic PAC accused its former treasurer, Clifford Michael Pickens, of misappropriating more than $7,400.
But Pickens told NOTUS that it’s all a misunderstanding and he had failed to respond to PAC founder Chris Armitage’s repeated inquiries and a legal demand letter because of “personal family issues.”
Armitage is now considering whether to press charges against Pickens.
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A NOTUS review of federal documents and separate interviews with Pickens and Armitage reveals how their longtime friendship devolved into accusations, incriminations and ghosting.
It hadn’t always been this way. Armitage told NOTUS that he had been friends with Pickens for more than a decade when he tapped him to be treasurer of the Existentialist Republic PAC, which was formed on March 2, according to FEC records.
Armitage, a former Democratic congressional candidate, told NOTUS that he launched the political committee to conduct civic outreach on issues he cares about, including universal health care. The website describes the PAC’s goal as electing leaders “who believe in evidence-driven action and accountability.”
During March and April, Pickens was slow to respond to Armitage’s messages and repeatedly told Armitage he was having trouble opening a bank account for the committee, according to Existentialist Republic PAC’s letter to the FEC.
Because of their friendship, however, Armitage told NOTUS he initially gave Pickens “a lot of leeway.”
But the FEC sent Existentialist Republic PAC a letter on May 1 warning that it had not filed its mandatory quarterly campaign finance report. Concerned, Armitage contacted ActBlue, the omnipresent Democratic fundraising platform that Existentialist Republic PAC uses for its fundraising.
ActBlue told Armitage that eight checks payable to Existentialist Republic PAC and issued between March 23 and May 1 had been deposited in a bank account — even though Pickens had told Armitage he was unable to set up an account for the PAC, according to the committee’s letter to the FEC.
The checks had been sent to Pickens’ personal address, which doubled as the committee’s address of record.
On May 15, Armitage filed paperwork with the FEC to remove Pickens as treasurer.
Two days later, Existentialist Republic PAC sent Pickens a formal letter via mail, email and text demanding a full accounting and return of the committee’s funds, according to the committee’s letter to the FEC. The committee also said it was preparing complaints with the FBI, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and the Office of the Arizona Attorney General.
While the committee has not yet filed a campaign finance disclosure, Armitage told NOTUS that the $7,400 was “almost everything” the committee had raised.
“Honestly, I feel dumb,” Armitage told NOTUS.
Armitage said he simply wanted to ask Pickens: “Why didn’t you just talk to me?”
After NOTUS spoke with Armitage, the two men spoke to each other.
Both Armitage and Pickens told NOTUS that their call was brief, and Pickens told Armitage he would send him the disputed money.
Pickens told NOTUS in an email that Armitage’s accusations are a “surprise.” He said he had personally covered the cost of building the committee’s website and paid the social media manager “when Chris could not pay.”
Pickens also called NOTUS on Friday as he drove from Washington state to Arizona in a “truck packed full of stuff.” Pickens said he had “ignored a lot of people in my life” while separating from his spouse and making several major repairs on a property he was selling.
Pickens told NOTUS that he had deposited the checks from ActBlue into his marketing business account. When NOTUS asked Pickens if he spent the funds on any personal expenses, he said he had not — and that he would send Armitage the funds when he returned to Arizona.
When contacted for comment, ActBlue pointed NOTUS to a policy that states it can suspend or terminate access if it suspects an individual or committee has used the platform for illegal or unethical activity and will work on a “case-by-case” basis to gather information related to any recent allegations of criminal activity.
A source familiar with the matter told NOTUS that Pickens is no longer permitted on ActBlue and has been added to a list of individuals monitored for any potential new activity on the platform.
“I am so sorry that this even got to this point, and I understand that it’s my fault for not communicating with him, but I’ve just been going through a lot,” Pickens told NOTUS.
Why didn’t he just decline his friend’s offer to become the Existentialist Republic PAC’s treasurer?
“I don’t know,” Pickens said.
Pickens is not listed as the treasurer on any other federal political committees, but the Libertarian Party website lists Pickens as the chair of the Washington state affiliate. The Libertarian Party confirmed he is the chair of the affiliate but declined to comment on the matter.
Dave Mason, a former Republican FEC chairman, told NOTUS that Pickens had violated campaign finance law prohibiting the commingling of funds for a PAC and any other account. When asked if the committee had an obligation to file a police report, Mason said the committee only had to report to the FEC where the money went and if it was returned.
But, he added, typically “the FEC expects people to file a police report.” The FEC only has two of six commissioners currently and would need at least four to open a case. It’s unlikely that the agency would use its limited resources to pursue a case over the small dollar amount.
The FEC declined to comment.
“This is the kind of thing that happens when people rely on friends and informal procedures,” Mason said.
Alleged embezzlement or misappropriation from political campaigns and committees happens with some frequency. In the recent past, several once-trusted treasurers have admitted to or been accused of stealing funds from major trade associations and unions — as well as sitting members of Congress.
Pickens told NOTUS that he hopes his friendship with Armitage can recover.
“I have no hard feelings against him. He did what he felt he needed to do,” Pickens said. “I love Chris. He’s awesome. I support everything that he’s doing, and I’ll continue to support him.”
When NOTUS asked Armitage if the friendship could recover, he said, “I don’t know.”
“I feel like I’d be an idiot to ever trust him again,” Armitage said.
He said the Existentialist Republic PAC is on “pause right now” while he handles the situation, but “we’re gonna get stuff done.”
As of Monday, Armitage said he was still waiting for the funds Pickens had promised him. Pickens sent NOTUS a screenshot of a wire transfer Monday evening as evidence he transferred some of the money — $3,500 — to Armitage.
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