PRESS RELEASE from the Republican National Committee

July 18, 2011

 
WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus today called on the Department of Justice to investigate whether or not President Barack Obama broke federal election laws by conducting illegal political fundraising activity in the White House.  A fundraising video featuring the President appears to have been recorded in the Map Room which is not part of the White House residence, but rather “occupied in the discharge of official duties.” According to federal law, it is a crime for the President of the United States to solicit political contributions in a place of official government business. Chairman Priebus has asked U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder for the Department of Justice to investigate the matter to determine if, in fact, federal laws were broken by President Obama. Below are excerpts from Chairman Priebus’ letter to Attorney General Holder:
 
"It is with grave concern that I write to request a Department of Justice investigation into an apparent crime committed by President Barack Obama. On or about June 27, 2011, Obama for America Campaign Manager Jim Messina sent an email message containing an announcement he said President Obama wanted to make personally.  The message solicited funds for a raffle, of which the winner would have the opportunity to have dinner with President Obama and Vice-President Biden.  “If you haven’t yet thrown your name in the hat for this thing,” Mr. Messina wrote, “I have a feeling this announcement might change that.” Embedded in Mr. Messina’s message was a video of President Obama, along with a link to a website through which donors could enter the raffle by making contributions to the President’s reelection campaign …
 
"According to multiple individuals with knowledge of the White House’s rooms and layout, the video appears to have been recorded in the Map Room.  According to news reports, however, the White House Counsel has indicated that the video was filmed somewhere in the residential portion of the White House …
 
"As Chairman of the Republican National Committee, I have the responsibility to hold the President accountable for his reckless spending, for the unsustainable growth of government and the crushing debt he is leaving for future generations of Americans, and now, sadly, for his apparent criminal behavior.  I never expected I would be in this regrettable position, but the President’s conduct and the White House staff’s stonewalling leave me no choice …"
 
 
To view the full letter click here:  http://bit.ly/qhXJvk

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PRESS RELEASE from Democratic National Committee

For Immediate Release

 

Date: July 18, 2011

 

Contact DNC Press 

 

DNC Communications Director Brad Woodhouse Calls RNC Letter to DOJ "Disgraceful, Desperate and Politically-Motivated"

Washington, DC – DNC Communications Director Brad Woodhouse released the following statement in response to the special interest-funded Republican Party’s letter today to the Department of Justice about the President’s political activity: 

“This is a disgraceful, desperate and politically-motivated attempt at getting headlines by a Republican Party awash in special interest cash which is fighting to preserve tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires at the expense of seniors.  This is also an effort to distract from the fact that the President has run the most open and transparent White House and campaign ever while the GOP and its candidates could not survive without being in the pockets of big oil, insurance companies and other special interests.  Instead of playing political games, the Republican Party and its presidential candidates should come clean and tell the American people who exactly among their special interest backers they are working for to end Medicare, slash student loans and place more burdens on the middle class in exchange for preserving tax breaks for corporate lobbyists, corporate jet owners and hedge fund managers.”