District of Columbia Councilmember Jack Evans (D-Ward 2), who represents the Georgetown area, has joined the growing number of political figures being investigated for campaign finance shenanigans.
A Political Action Committee founded by and connected to Evans is now under audit by the D.C. Office of Campaign Finance.
The D.C. Fund, formerly known as JACK PAC, was created to serve the Evans’ non-constituent, non-campaign-related political activities in 1993.
D.C. law, however, forbids a PAC from operating at the behest of a political candidate or officeholder—only candidate campaign committees can do that, according to Michael Simpson, public affairs manager for the OCF. Simpson could not comment on the status of the D.C. Fund audit because the investigation is still ongoing.
Despite PAC regulations, the D.C. Fund’s expense reports indicate that Evans used personal checks linked to the PAC bank account to purchase items and services directly related to his work and personal life, ranging from $14,060 for Washington Nationals Season tickets to hundreds of dollars in travel expenses.
If the current auditing process finds that D.C. regulations were transgressed, the PAC will be liable for civil fines as high as $2000 per violation.
In interviews with the Washington Post, Evans and other PAC officials claimed that the allegedly improper use of the funds was an “innocent mistake” and that they are now shutting down the committee, which raised $233,245 in its 12-year existence.
Evans refused repeated requests for comment.
In November 2003, the PAC gave $250 to the Georgetown University College Democrats, who used that money and donations from other sources to stage a special event, according to University spokesperson Julie Green Bataille.
A senior member of the College Dems says that the organization, primarily funded through the Student Activities Commission, does not currently maintain fundraising relationships with Democratic politicians in the city or elsewhere.
This is the first potential scandal to emerge in this year’s political season, and it could hurt Evans’ chances if he chooses-as he has indicated he will-to run for District Council Chair and replace retiring Chairman Linda Cropp (D-At Large). If this story receives further coverage, it could hurt Evans’ reputation in the eyes of voters and, perhaps more importantly, campaign donors who are concerned with how their money is spent.
Interestingly, it seems that Evans’ only fault is failing to read the fine print. Federal PACs are allowed much greater leeway than their District counterparts in their expenditures, and it is possible that Evans was operating under that assumption.
Innocent mistake or no, only time will tell if Evans will suffer political or financial damage from his PAC purchases.
