Yesterday, I mentioned the story of Colin and Andrea Chisholm, a couple from Minnesota facing charges of fraudulently taking welfare money from Florida and Minnesota even though they were very rich at the time. From 2005 to 2012, they took over $167,000 in welfare payments from the two states--including two years where they were drawing checks from both states at the same time--even though they had over $3 million in the bank, rented a house in the wealthy Twin Cities suburb of Deephaven for $2,700 a month, and operated a broadband company and an award-winning puppy kennel. While claiming they were so destitute they had to live with Andrea's mother, they told neighbors that they were old Scottish gentry.
A couple of commenters suggested it would be awfully interesting to see where their donations went. The more I thought about it, it would make sense to check, since if they did donate anything, by all rights the recipients should return those donations or donate an equivalent amount to charity. So I moseyed over to OpenSecrets ... and wouldn't you know, it turns out that Colin Chisholm donated a total of $1,250 to Republican-related groups. Specifically, $250 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee in 2005 and $1,000 to the Connecticut Republican Campaign Committee in 2008. This from a guy who said he had no income and only $85 to his name at one point. He is listed as the CEO of TCN Networks, a cable and broadband company with operations in the Caribbean.
If they have any decency, the NRSC and the Connecticut GOP should return the money. This is money that may rightfully belong to the taxpayers of Florida and Minnesota.