Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse’s leadership PAC got jacked.
Oceans PAC reported “unauthorized” disbursements — worth $5,752 and $1,860, respectively — in January, according to a Federal Election Commission disclosure document reviewed by NOTUS.
It’s the latest in a string of high-profile thefts from federal political candidates and committees, which together have cost them millions of dollars this decade.
A spokesperson for Whitehouse, a Democrat from Rhode Island who sits on the Senate Finance Committee, told NOTUS that an “unaffiliated third party made two fraudulent withdrawals from the PAC’s bank account in January.”
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“After initiating an investigation with the bank, the funds were returned to the Committee the following month. Oceans PAC reported both the withdrawals and subsequent refunds on its FEC reports,” the spokesperson said.
Whitehouse’s office did not immediately answer follow-up questions about the nature of the theft and who returned funds to the committee. The PAC had about $51,000 cash on hand as of February 28, according to FEC records.
The FEC sent a letter to Oceans PAC’s treasurer, Grace Diaz, on March 31 requesting more information about the matter.
“This notice requests information essential to full public disclosure of your federal election campaign finances. Failure to adequately respond by [May 5] could result in an audit or enforcement action,” Aaron Carrell, a senior campaign finance analyst, wrote.
“These receipts appear to be related to an apparent unauthorized use of Committee funds. Although the Commission may take further legal action regarding this apparent improper use of Committee funds, any further clarifying information that you can provide will be taken into consideration,” the letter continues.
The senator’s spokesperson said the committee is “responding to the FEC’s request for additional information.”
The Republican National Committee, the 2020 presidential campaign of Joe Biden and the reelection campaigns of Sen. Chuck Schumer, Sen. Jerry Moran, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are among dozens of other committees hit by fraudsters, cyber thieves and check swipers.
Democratic Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine were victimized by their own campaign treasurer, who is now serving time in prison for stealing from committees whose finances she oversaw.
In January, NOTUS reported that a leading financial technology trade association lost $2,500 to a scammer. Last year, accounting firm KPMG acknowledged having $10,000 stolen from its PAC.
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