FEC complaint: GOP operatives illegally helped Jill Stein in NH

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View CommentsePaperMetroWeatherPoliticsSportsBusinessWatch: Globe TodayPuzzlesRhode IslandGlobe MagazineOpinionHealthArtsLifestyleEducationCambervilleMoney, Power, InequalitySpotlightTechnologyClimateCarsReal EstateEventsDemocratic group files FEC complaint alleging GOP operatives illegally boosted Jill Stein in New HampshireEnd Citizens United told the FEC this week that submitting signatures for the Green Party candidate amounted to an ‘excessive and illegal’ campaign contributionEmail to a Friend





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View CommentsGreen Party presidential candidate Jill Stein spoke at a Pro-Palestinian protest in front of the White House on June 8 in Washington, D.C.Mattie Neretin/GettyThe Democratic group End Citizens United has filed a complaint with federal regulators against the Jill Stein campaign and Republican operatives who submitted signatures for her in New Hampshire, alleging that the outside political organizations helped the Green Party candidate secure ballot access in what amounted to an “excessive and illegal” contribution to the campaign.“There is strong reason to believe the Stein Campaign, other Respondents named in this Complaint, and future Respondents yet unknown have grievously violated [campaign finance laws] by making, accepting, and/or facilitating excessive illegal in-kind contributions and excessive illegal coordinated expenditures,” reads the complaint, filed with the Federal Election Commission on Wednesday. The organization is asking federal regulators to investigate and “pursue appropriate sanctions.”The Globe reported last month that Jefferson Thomas, a longtime GOP operative who heads a firm called the Synapse Group, had submitted signatures for Stein in several New Hampshire municipalities. Employees of Impact Advocacy Group, another political firm with ties to Republicans, worked with Thomas to deliver the signatures for Stein, according to the complaint. Stein has been certified to appear on the New Hampshire ballot.Get Starting PointA guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.Enter EmailSign UpRelated: A longtime GOP operative helped the Green Party’s Jill Stein get on the N.H. ballot. Democrats smell mischief.AdvertisementDemocratic critics said the signature effort for Stein fits into a broader pattern of meddling by Republicans and affiliated groups, who they say are boosting third-party candidates in the hopes that they will siphon votes away from Vice President Kamala Harris in competitive states. The Associated Press has reported that a nationwide network of Republican affiliates is working to get third-party candidates on the ballot in several states.“MAGA Republicans are doing everything they can to undermine our elections to prop up the Jill Stein and Cornel West campaigns because they know Donald Trump can’t win without illegal meddling,” End Citizens United president Tiffany Muller said in a statement. “It’s blatantly illegal to work on their behalf and offer professional services without payment — and yet time and time again these third party campaigns are seeing Republican consultants go far and above what is allowed. Everyone involved in this scheme must be held accountable, otherwise it would set an incredibly dangerous precedent for the future of our democracy.”AdvertisementIf Stein had paid Synapse to collect signatures, the campaign would be required to disclose the help on her campaign finance reports. But Stein’s communications director told the Globe last month the campaign was “not aware of any such effort” in New Hampshire.The complaint from End Citizens United alleges, though, that the Stein campaign must have known about the effort by Republican groups.“Given the unique and complicated nature of petition gathering for Presidential candidates, it is virtually impossible for these activities to be taking place without direct coordination between the Stein Campaign” and the Republican groups, the complaint said. “There is no conceivable way IAG and Synapse could have collected, organized, and submitted 4,720 nominating petitions securing the Stein Campaign’s space on the ballot without inside information from the Stein Campaign” about how many signatures it needed and from which parts of the state, the complaint said.The signature help was an “in-kind contribution” — meaning goods or services, not direct monetary donations — that needed to be disclosed, the complaint argues.Thomas and the Stein campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the complaints. Kory Langhofer, an attorney for Impact, said while some Impact employees may have been involved in the signature delivery, ”Impact was not engaged on this project.”The complaint against Stein and the GOP operatives working in New Hampshire was just one of four filed by End Citizens United this week. The group is also filing complaints alleging wrongdoing by third-party candidates Cornel West and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has exited the race and endorsed Trump.Stein appears to have minimal support from New Hampshire voters — 1 percent or less, according to several polls — and the state is looking increasingly safe for Democrats since Harris became the nominee. Still, third-party candidates have made all the difference in that state in past elections.AdvertisementTrump, for his part, has praised third-party candidates such as West and Stein for pulling votes from Democrats.“I like her very much,” Trump said of Stein at a campaign event this year. “You know why? She takes 100 percent from them.”Emma Platoff can be reached at emma.platoff@globe.com. Follow her @emmaplatoff.Boston Globe TodayFollow Us Subscribe NowDigital AccessHome DeliveryGift SubscriptionsMy AccountLog InManage My AccountCustomer ServiceDelivery IssuesFeedbackContactNews TipsHelp & FAQsStaff ListAdvertiseMoreNewslettersView the ePaperOrder Back IssuesNews in EducationSearch the ArchivesPrivacy PolicyTerms of ServiceTerms of PurchaseWork at Boston Globe MediaInternship ProgramCo-op ProgramDo Not Sell My Personal Information©2025 Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC
The GOP? Helping the candidate from the Green Party? How can that be? Why, that would mean that the Green party isn't a serious political party but simply a "party" running spoiler Presidential candidates in swing states in an attempt to draw support from Democratic voters. Say it ain't so!!!

Seriously though,

**ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY, NOV 5, 2024**.

If you live in New Hampshire,

**[Register to vote in NH](https://www.sos.nh.gov/elections/register-vote)**

**[Check your NH voter registration status](https://app.sos.nh.gov/voterinformation)**

**[Find your NH polling location](https://app.sos.nh.gov/pollingplacesampleballot)**

**[Learn about NH absentee ballots](https://www.sos.nh.gov/elections/absentee-ballots)**

**[Vote411.org](https://www.vote411.org/)** can help you understand your specific ballot. See which groups support and oppose the candidates and measures on your specific ballot. You can even print a cheat sheet to bring with you on voting day.

**2024 NH DEMOCRATIC ELECTION OVERVIEW:**

New Hampshire is a swing state for President in 2024 with 4 Electoral votes. There is no Senate race in the state this year, but there is a US House race that might get close for Democrats. Incumbent Democrat **[Chris Pappas](https://ballotpedia.org/Chris_Pappas)** is defending his seat in NH-1.

At the state level, there is a very important Governor’s race. Democrat **[Candidate TBD 9/10/24](https://ballotpedia.org/New_Hampshire_gubernatorial_election,_2024)** is running to replace Republican Chris Sununu, who has decided not to run for re-election. Democrats are also hoping to flip a few seats in the **[state House of Representatives election](https://ballotpedia.org/New_Hampshire_House_of_Representatives_elections,_2024)** and take the majority in the chamber.

***[-All 2024 NH Elections](https://ballotpedia.org/New_Hampshire_elections,_2024)***

***[-Find all your representatives (Federal, State, and Local)](https://www.commoncause.org/find-your-representative/)***

***[-Learn more about how our government works](https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/our-government/)***

Don’t live in New Hampshire, but still want to register to vote, get more information, or check your status? Go to **[Vote.org](https://www.vote.org/)** to do all that and more!