Pro-Jeb Bush Super PAC fined for taking US$1.3 million from Chinese-owned company
- The Right to Rise super political action committee was fined US$390,000 for soliciting the foreign contributions during the 2016 campaign
- American Pacific International Capital, a Chinese-owned company, was fined US$550,000 for giving the donation
The election oversight agency in the United States has levied a record fine against the Super PAC that backed former presidential hopeful Jeb Bush, who ran as a Republican in 2016, and a Chinese-owned corporation.
The Campaign Legal Centre had asked the Federal Election Commission to impose sanctions in 2016, after The Intercept reported that American Pacific International Capital, Inc (APIC) had made US$1.3 million in contribution to the Right to Rise PAC.
The federal agency hasn’t publicly announced the decision. But the Campaign Legal Centre, which brought the FEC complaint, released agency documents announcing the fine on Monday.
APIC released a statement saying it is a US company and voluntarily agreed to the settlement with the FEC.
“The Commission expressly acknowledged that the company did not knowingly or wilfully violate any US campaign finance laws,” APIC said in a statement.
“American Pacific International Capital remains committed to compliance with all campaign finance laws and regulations.”