Tangled Web Of Campaign Cash Connects Hawaii To Maine
Tens of thousands of dollars in contributions have flowed from a Hawaii defense contractor, his family and employees to a Maine Republican senator.
WASHINGTON — A Honolulu-based company that received an $8 million contract for defense work in Maine appears to be linked to a mysterious campaign donation made to a super PAC backing U.S. Sen. Susan Collins in her bid for re-election.
That donation, which came through another Hawaii based entity — the Society of Young Women Scientist and Engineers LLC — is now the subject of an official complaint before the Federal Election Commission that alleges the contribution was illegal.
On Aug. 7, Collins took part in a celebration with Navatek LLC in Portland, Maine, the largest city in her home state.
Campaign finance reports show Kao recently became a major donor to Collins’ campaign, maxing out his contributions to the Republican senator as she seeks re-election.
Collins isn’t the only beneficiary of Kao’s largesse, however. He’s donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to candidates in recent years, including members of Hawaii’s own federal delegation.
Hawaii Sens. Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono have received thousands of dollars as have U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and the late Hawaii Congressman Mark Takai.
Kao spreads his money around in other states as well. So far this cycle he’s maxed out his contributions to Democratic senators Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Chris Coons of Delaware, Gary Peters of Michigan and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire.
That’s one reason the Society of Young Women Scientist and Engineers LLC came to the attention of the Campaign Legal Center, a nonpartisan Washington, D.C.-based watchdog focused on money in politics.
The Campaign Legal Center asked the FEC to investigate the LLC’s $150,000 donation, saying it appeared to be illegal, in part because there’s no record of the Society of Young Women Scientist and Engineers having legitimate income. The donation was made Dec. 31.
Instead, the legal center argued, it appears the company, which was created Nov. 26, was set up as a dark money front to mask the true identity of the donor to the pro-Collins super PAC.
The only name associated with the organization is Jennifer Lam, which Hawaii business records lists as the company’s registered agent and manager.
Kao’s wife’s name is Tiffany Jennifer Lam. She has donated the maximum amount — $5,600 — to Collins, FEC records show.
Lam lists her profession as policy advisor for the Consumer Coalition For Quality Healthcare.
FEC records show Kao also donated $5,600 to Collins between 2018 and 2019, which is the maximum allowable under federal rules.
Additionally, a number of Navatek employees and their relatives also donated the maximum allowed to Collins’ campaign, adding tens of thousands of dollars to her bid to stay in office.
https://www.civilbeat.org/2020/02/tangled-web-of-campaign-cash-connects-hawaii-to-maine/