(Cross posted at The Albany Project)
This scandal seems to be growing. As this article suggests, there's audit trouble over at the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC). This all has to do with a forged 2006 election audit. First, there was a link to Rep. Jim Walsh (NY-25). Now there could be another link.
A link to Tom Reynolds.
The Politico has the scoop:
Ward has been with the committee in some capacity since 1993, according to FEC records. He was listed as the committee’s treasurer between 1993 and 2003, according to the same campaign finance data.
He was on the committee’s official payroll the entire time, earning roughly $6,500 per month during his last year at the NRCC. In August, his last month as an official member of the staff, the committee paid him $8,758.
That same month, the NRCC began recording regular monthly payments of $7,500 to C.J. Ward & Company LLC, signaling his transition as an outside contractor for the committee. That venture is listed under the same address as Ward’s Bethesda home, according to FEC records.
His (Ward's) last month was in August 2007. But he was treasurer from 1993-2003 and he was listed as treasurer in 2006 FEC filings. Guess who was chairman of the NRCC then?
If you guessed Tom Reynolds, you are correct.
You know Tom, I would think that someone who has received $10,000 in campaign contributions from the American Institute of CPAs would be a little more accountable let's say.
My question to Reynolds would be this: How could you serve in that capacity (from 2002-2006, Reynolds chaired the NRCC) and not know what's going on with the money? Reynolds has a lot of questions to answer. And I think the NRCC's new regime wants them first.
UPDATE: There could be a bigger story here. Reynolds' mentor Bill Paxon, who represented the district Reynolds represents now, was NRCC chair from 1992-1998. Ward worked for the NRCC beginning in 1993. How far could this reach? Possibly VERY far.
UPDATE II: Ward has been linked to Swift Boat Vets. Imagine that...