Georgia GOP Executive Director Stewart Bragg on Sunday filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission alleging that Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jon Ossoff coordinates — illegally — with a group tied to Chuck Schumer.
Schumer (D-NY) is the U.S. Senate Minority leader.
Bragg’s complaint specifically alleges that Ossoff works with The Georgia Way, a Schumer-affiliated PAC.
This, according to an emailed press release that the Georgia Republican Party released Sunday.
As reported, U.S. Sen. David Perdue (R-GA) and U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) are on the January 5, 2021 ballot for the U.S. Senate against Ossoff and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Raphael Warnock, respectively.
“The Georgia Way is a Super-PAC that was recently organized on November 16, 2020 in an apparent effort by the Senate Majority PAC and Senator Chuck Schumer to make targeted campaign efforts for Senatorial candidate, Jon Ossoff, in the Georgia Senatorial run-offs,” according to Bragg’s complaint.
“With receipts of over $5,050,000.00 to date, Georgia Way has already disbursed $4,922,487.00 on federal operating expenditures and independent expenditures, all of which appear to have been coordinated with Jon Ossoff for Senate in efforts to defame Senator David Perdue.”
As of Sunday night, Ossoff and members of his campaign had not mentioned the complaint on his campaign’s Facebook page.
Bragg, in his complaint, said The Georgia Way released an ad “directly tracking language, sources, and claims made on Jon Ossoff for Senate’s campaign website.”
“The sudden organization and immediate sequence of The Georgia Way’s advertisement indicates that it is in coordination with Jon Ossoff for Senate in publishing communications of similar conduct and content,” according to the complaint.
“This type of behavior is contrary to federal law prohibiting candidates from coordinating with super PACs, and the Commission must immediately investigate and enforce the law.”
Bragg said in the complaint that Jon Ossoff for Senate, last month, published a campaign update on its website, electjon.com. The campaign update referenced a link for individuals to click to learn more. That link, the complaint added, directed users to a “Campaign Update: What Georgians Need to Know” newsletter including other research links.
Four days later, on November 16, 2020, The Georgia Way filed their statement of organization. Later that month, The Georgia Way released an ad titled “Cashed In.” The ad concerned the same conduct and context as Ossoff’s campaign update on Perdue, the complaint said.
“Based on the timing, messaging, conduct, and context of the campaign update and the advertisement, Jon Ossoff for Senate is coordinating its message against Senator Perdue with the Senate Majority PAC’s newly formed committee, The Georgia Way. This conduct has resulted in the airing of at least one advertisement that likely constitutes an illegal $690,200 in-kind donation to Jon Ossoff for Senate’s campaign,” according to the complaint.
“The Commission should investigate what we see as a clear violation, otherwise we believe that candidates will continue coordinating with outside groups in violation of the FECA. As such, GAGOP respectfully requests the Commission immediately investigate and hold the Respondents accountable.”
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
