CLC Alleges Vermont Congressional Candidate Orchestrated Illegal Straw Donor Scheme

On January 17, 2023, Campaign Legal Center (CLC) filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) alleging that Liam Madden, a congressional candidate in Vermont during the 2022 election, orchestrated a straw donor scheme to funnel money from his wife’s business to his campaign in order to qualify for a candidate debate. During a radio show appearance days before the 2022 general election, Madden publicly acknowledged distributing money from his wife’s business account to his family members – including his wife and three-year-old child – in order for them to contribute over $25,000 to his campaign in their own names, and Madden further admitted that his campaign later reimbursed these straw donor contributions through disbursements to him disguised as “staff” payments.