New California redistricting author Paul Mitchell told attorneys during his testimony that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) sent the payment to his accountant, who also appears to be the CFO of a political consulting firm that helped efforts to oppose Proposition 50.
democrats Proposition 50 The drama began in July after California's Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom formally proposed a constitutional amendment to allow legislative redistricting in response to Texas redistricting. After the DCCC presented maps to the Legislature in August, Mitchell's role in the chaos was confirmed. But questions surrounding his title and the details of his involvement intensified after the Department of Justice (DOJ) joined state Republicans in a lawsuit against the DCCC and others associated with the cards. (RELATED: 'X-Acto Knife Job': Court Hears Claims Newsom's Gerrymandering Cards Were Cut Based on Race)
During the Justice Department and the state GOP's case before panel of three judges In downtown Los Angeles, beginning on December 15, Mitchell, among other things, refused to testify before judges and lawyers regarding his experience making the maps. However, although he recused himself from testifying in court, Mitchell did testify for hours, answering questions about the timing and some of the details surrounding the card requests.
Mitchell told lawyers during questioning that he was paid a total of $325,000 for his map redrawing services, of which approximately $108,000 came from the DCCC. Public DCCC payment records From this year's show, $108,333.33 was paid to Mitchell's firm, Redistricting Partners, on Aug. 20, with additional payments collected later.
It is noteworthy that check of the DCCC listed the same address as a Sacramento-based campaign and public relations consulting firm known as Swing Strategies. When asked about the apparent discrepancy, Mitchell told lawyers that the invoice was issued to his company, but Swing Strategies CFO Ken Andres was its accountant.
Swing Strategies, a leading political consulting firm, describes itself has an 88% win rate on ballot initiatives throughout the state of California, running “successful campaigns” that allow the firm to “lead and collaborate to achieve victories” for its clients. The firm has worked in a bipartisan manner in the past, helping such figures as former Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and former Democratic California Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon.
Aerial view of a “Yes on 50” sign placed on a pedestrian walkway above Highway 101. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
According to Andres' biography at the company websiteHe previously co-owned an accounting services company with his wife for over five years, serving clients in a variety of industries, including construction, healthcare and non-profit organizations. In his current role at Swing Strategies, Andres oversees all aspects of the financial management of the company's operations.
Mitchell explained in his deposition that Andres had worked for him as an accountant since 2011, adding that the two became personal friends after being introduced by Republican consultant Matt Rexroad, who founded Meridian Pacific Inc., a Republican political campaign consulting firm.
“He’s a good friend,” Mitchell described Andres.
Andres did not respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation's request for comment.
But while Swing Strategies was working on a mix of ballot proposals in the deep blue state, the company also appeared in public reports of payments related to the No on Proposition 50 campaign. According to government recordsone of the leading PACs, Protect Voters First, paid more than $30 million to Meridian Pacific Inc., doing business as Swing Strategies.
The first payments to the company began on August 19, with five transactions made that day. One payment was $3,661,523.07, the second was $5,600,124.12, the third was $90,000, the fourth was $55,000 and the last payment for that day was $5,000.
When asked about Andres being an accountant for both Swing Strategies and Redistricting Partners, Mitchell confirmed the arrangement, adding that Swing Strategies “was a campaign without a campaign.”
“It’s a small world,” Mitchell said.
Speculation about the state GOP's efforts and the “No” campaign was called into question by the passage of Proposition 50. At the height of the fight, McCarthy reportedly promised his party members that he would help raise up to $100 million to help defeat the “Yes” campaign. However, his PAC, Number 50: Stop the Sacramento Power Grab, raised only $11.6 million, with $1 million of that coming from the former House Speaker's defunct campaign account, according to Cal Matters.
McCarthy reportedly led the second PAC with the help of former California GOP chairwoman Jessica Patterson, who was allegedly paid half a million by the No 50 committee. according to to the California Globe.
The SoCal Daily Pulse report, which has since been deleted, initially alleged that Patterson “personally directed” media contracts to ensure “no” PACs worked with Swing Strategies. Under the company's collaboration agreement, she would allegedly negotiate a 1% cut from total advertising costs for herself, which could potentially net her a profit of about $310,000 out of an estimated $31 million. The total of the committee's proposed cuts and payouts potentially gives Patterson nearly $1 million in compensation for efforts that have failed Republicans in the state.
Efforts made by Swing Strategies were also called into question as donors allegedly raised concerns about the quality of the mailers used for the “No” campaign. Voters also reportedly received “No” campaign mailers after Election Day, with some allegedly receiving three letters in one day, the California Globe reported.
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