Key Sentence:
- Republican lawmaker Lauren Bobert (R-Colo.) used the funds to campaign for rent and utility bills.
- The motion claims that lawmakers have reimbursed campaign costs, and this transaction appears in a report to be paid in October.
- He claims to have received his money back.
Robert’s initial campaign submissions for the second quarter of 2021 Lauren Bobert included four Venmo payment stotaling $6,650 with a vague description. “Lauren Boebert’s expenses were inadvertently charged to the campaign account. Fees will be reimbursed. “In August, the FEC asked the campaign for more details on payments. Later Boebert spokesman Jake Settle would call the purchase for Forbes a “personal expense.”
However, on Tuesday, the campaign released an amended report for the quarter. Two of the $2,000 payments are now labeled “Rent by error for Venmo campaign. While the other two are categorized as “Rental/Utilities.” The document confirms that all four transactions have been recovered.
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After each Venmo payment, the updated filing now includes the cost of the same amount. Date, and description to a person named John Pacheco, whose address is listed as 120 E. Third Street in Rifle, Colorado. This is the same address as Shooters Grill, Boebert’s restaurant.
The Bobert campaign could be sued for the payments, the FEC clarified in an August letter. “If the payments are found to be for the personal use of campaign funds. The Commission may consider taking additional legal action,” the document said. “However, prompt action will be taken to obtain a refund in question. A Boebert spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.