Nearly $12 million is missing in financial disclosures for a super political action committee for President Joe Biden, prompting calls for an investigation.
Chauncey McLean, who worked on President Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns, leads both Future Forward and its nonprofit.
Future Forward didn’t respond to requests for comment.
Future Forward “has failed to disclose the receipt of approximately $12 million,” the complaint states. It called on the FEC to “launch a full investigation of this complaint by issuing subpoenas for documents and testimony.”
“The question is, where did that money go?” Paul Kamenar, NLPC counsel, told The Epoch Times. Future Forward, he said, “has some explaining to do here with respect to the nondisclosure.”
The NLPC also says that Future Forward USA Action should have disclosed the identity of its donors because the donations appear to have been earmarked for Future Forward, with the nonprofit acting as a mere conduit.
“They’ve got to disclose who the donors were to the [nonprofit], because those are really the donors to the PAC,” Mr. Kamenar said.
Similar investigations have resulted in fines.
The FEC fined the organization $350,000.
An FEC spokeswoman told The Epoch Times: “The FEC does not comment on potential or pending complaints. By law, all enforcement matters must remain confidential until they’re closed.”
The commission says that it investigates possible violations uncovered through various means, including reviews of campaign finance reports, audits, and complaints.
Watchdogs Support Probe
Future Forward had submitted the $3.4 million number to the FEC, a figure far below the $15.3 million represented as going to Future Forward in documents sent to the IRS by Future Forward USA Action.Watchdogs said the missing money should trigger a probe.
“The apparent numerous and blatant discrepancies in the recent filings by both the nonprofit and the super PAC are beyond troubling,” Kendra Arnold, executive director of watchdog group Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust, told the Free Beacon. “This situation calls for an investigation.”
Jason Torchinsky, a nonprofit attorney, also supports an FEC investigation.
“If the FEC determined that there were $12 million in underreported receipts by a super PAC, that could result in a substantial fine because FEC penalties are often assessed based on the amount at issue,” Mr. Torchinsky said.
A probe could result in fines and even criminal penalties, depending on the results.
If a probe doesn’t take place, then the NLPC is prepared to file a legal complaint against the FEC “for not enforcing their laws and regulations,” Mr. Kamenar said.
Biden PAC
Top Biden administration officials have praised Future Forward.The super PAC was “critical” in helping President Biden win the 2020 election and would “again play a key role in 2024,” said Jennifer O’Malley Dillon, a White House official who served as the president’s 2020 campaign manager.
Those comments came after President Biden in 2022 said dark money was a “serious problem facing our democracy” and announced his support for a law crafted by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.). The law, known as the DISCLOSE Act, would require nonprofits and super PACs to make public the names of people and entities that donate at least $10,000 in a single election cycle.
Some Republicans suggested that Future Forward is on their radar.
“Any organization that appears to be skirting federal transparency laws ought to be investigated,” said Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), a member of the Freedom Caucus. “I’d imagine if this were a pro-Republican organization, the likelihood of such [an] investigation would be a near certainty.”
