U.S. Sen. Mike Braun’s Senate campaign has been ordered to pay a civil penalty of $159,000 to the Federal Election Commission for violating campaign finance rules during the 2018 election. The agreement on the penalty was recently posted by the FEC, with the initial report of the penalty coming from The Indianapolis Star.
The FEC had originally accused the Braun campaign of illegally accepting improper loans. However, after the campaign provided documentation, it was determined that the violation stemmed from clerical errors made by a former treasurer, Travis Kabrick. Braun's current campaign treasurer, Thomas Datwyler, released a statement attributing the errors to the oversight of the former treasurer, Kabrick.
Braun's spokesperson, Josh Kelley, mentioned that Datwyler is currently exploring options to settle the fine, taking into account the errors made by Kabrick. The FEC's decision highlights the importance of accurate financial reporting and compliance with campaign finance regulations to avoid penalties and maintain transparency in political fundraising activities.
