Sanders' campaign fined for using Aussies

Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders' 2016 campaign has paid a fine for using Australian volunteers provided by the ALP.

Senator Bernie Sanders

Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign has been fined for using Australian volunteers. Source: AAP

Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign has paid a $US14,500 ($A20,300) civil penalty to the Federal Election Commission to settle a complaint the campaign improperly accepted the services of volunteers from Australia.

The agreement between the campaign and the commission that was finalised last month says the Bernie 2016 campaign accepted the services of volunteers from the Australian Labor Party, which paid the volunteers' expenses and a stipend.

Federal election law prohibits any foreign national from donating anything of value in US elections.

A statement issued by Bernie 2016 says the people on the campaign managing volunteers did not believe the stipend being paid to the seven Australians disqualified them.

The campaign settled the complaint in order to avoid an expensive fight, but did not agree it broke any rules.


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Source: AAP



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