When hard-working Americans make financial contributions to political campaigns, they deserve to know candidates are using their money responsibly.  In too many cases, money is taken from the poor and redistributed to wealthy campaign strategists.  People forgo groceries to contribute to predatory campaigns that spend millions on chartered jets, luxury hotels, and expensive dinners.  Since there are no Campaign Finance laws against nepotism, campaign funds are also used to provide lucrative salaries to family members on the campaign payroll.  

In recent decades, there have been attempts to crackdown on campaign finance laws to prevent abuse.  In 1979, Congress barred the use of campaign funds for personal use, but because ‘personal use’ was not clearly defined, politicians continued to use campaign funds to buy cars, designer clothing, Super Bowl tickets, real estate, and vacations. 

In 1995, the FEC added campaign finance regulations that defined personal use as follows: “…any use of funds in a campaign account of a present or former candidate to fulfill a commitment, obligation or expense of any person that would exist irrespective of the candidate’s campaign or responsibilities as a Federal officeholder.”

According to Section 30114(b) of Federal Election Campaign Laws, prohibited personal use includes a vacation or other non-campaign related trip.  On April 15, Senator Sanders and 10 of his family members flew to Italy on a chartered jet.  FEC itemized reports reveal that campaign funds were used to pay for the non-campaign related trip.  $13,758 was billed to the campaign for an overnight stay in a 5-star luxury hotel in Rome, Italy.  Hundreds of thousands of campaign dollars were spent on a private chartered flight that served lobster sliders, herb-crusted lamb, and a selection of fine cheeses.

Using campaign funds to finance a trip that would exist irrespective of campaign or federal officeholder responsibilities is a violation of Campaign Finance Laws.  Not only did the Pontifical Academy President express confusion about how the conference was relevant to Sanders’ campaign, Bernie Sanders and his top advisors agreed that the trip was not political:

• Sanders Senior Advisor, Tad Devine said, “This is not going to be a political speech.  We’re not looking at this through a political lens.”
• Campaign Manager, Jeff Weaver, said, “There are some things that are above politics and this is one of those.  This is an opportunity for him to speak at the Vatican on the signature works of his life.”
• In an interview with La Repubblica, Bernie Sanders was asked if his presence at the conference meant the Vatican was endorsing him.  He responded, “No. The Vatican is not involved in that.  The conference is not a political event.”

Please hold the Bernie Sanders' campaign accountable for using campaign funds for a non-campaign related trip to Italy with family members.  

Read more: http://www.politicade.com/confirmed-bernie-sanders-illegally-used-campaign-funds-for-overnight-trip-to-italy/