Little-known slush funds let elected leaders vacation at five-star resorts, spend tens of thousands of dollars at steakhouses steps from the Capitol, and upgrade their wardrobe one pair of shoes at a time — all under the guise of “fundraising.” But learn about why living lavishly leads to one member of Congress being thrown in jail, and others treating it as business as usual.

Released on February 10, 2020

GUESTS

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• CBS 60 Minutes — Washington’s Open Secret: Profitable PACs. (Oct. 2013)

• Report: All Expenses Paid — How leadership PACs became politicians’ preferred ticket to luxury living (July 2018)

• Report: Leadership PACs, Inc. — How Washington power players use leadership PACs to buy access and influence (Oct. 2018)

• Report: More than 50 former members of Congress urge the FEC to close personal use loophole for leadership PACs (Nov. 2018)

• Report: All Expenses Still Paid — A look at Leadership PAC’s Latest Outlandish Spending (May 2019)

• Report: More than half of freshman House members now have leadership PACs (Oct. 2019)

• Solution: H.R. 679 - Political Accountability and Transparency Act

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