GOP chairwoman accused of corruption by her fellow Republicans

Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel reportedly “choked up” as she faced internal party accusations of corruption surrounding the process to choose the party’s online donor platform, according to Politico. The outlet reported on Wednesday that McDaniel “grew visibly emotional,” according to eyewitnesses, when meeting with senior party officials over the issue.

“The party chairwoman choked up as she kicked off a closed-door panel discussion on WinRed by addressing ongoing rumors that she and other RNC officials are poised to personally benefit from the new platform,” Politico reported. “At one point, McDaniel said the only money she is making is her RNC salary.”

WinRed is an online donation system that Republicans have chosen to compete with ActBlue, a platform that Democrats have used for years to generate millions in donations from grassroots supporters online. For years, Republicans have lagged behind Democrats in this area.

Earlier in the year, Trump and top party officials issued an edict that WinRed would be the party’s chosen platform. But ABC News reported that some Republicans “have questioned whether key decision makers at the campaign and the party have any financial connection” to the vendors involved in the WinRed process as well.

So far, WinRed is a bust.

In reports filed with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC), Republicans raised $184,000 via WinRed since it launched in late June. By contrast, donors gave $249 million to Democratic candidates through ActBlue in the first six months of 2017.

Republicans have trailed behind Democratic grassroots fundraising for years. The attempt by Republicans to close the gap is being tripped up by the very culture of corruption they allowed to thrive for so long.

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.