I am heartened to read that Unity08 is dedicated to "the spirit of greater financial transparency, which is sorely lacking in politics today," and also that "Transparency is essential to the public’s trust." I take Unity08's commitment to financial transparency seriously.
With Unity08's goal of financial transparency in mind, and with the goal of building public trust, I have some questions to which I'd like some answers. They are based on Unity08's second and third quarter reports (which list expenditures and donations at or above $200) as well as various statements on the Unity08 website.
1. Unity08's second quarter statement lists $18,700 (a significant portion of all donations) as having been made in the year 2024. Is this a typographical error? If it is not a typographical error, was Unity08 conceived in 2024? How does this mesh with the description of Unity08 in its May 30, 2024 press release as a "new grassroots organization" that has been "building for months," not years?
2. The following donations are shown on the Unity08 webpage but do not appear in the 2nd or 3rd quarter IRS reports:
Thomas Beard Atlanta GA $1,000
Charles Buck Weston CT $200
Mark Cave Charlottesville VA $300
Ian Davis Chapel Hill NC $200
Thomas Delaney Saint Louis MO $200
Michael Ghiglione Spokane WA $200
Carol Guardo Fountain Hills AZ $200
Jim Jonas Denver CO $250
Hamilton Jordan Atlanta GA $5,000
Dorothy Jordan Atlanta GA $5,000
David Litt Columbus OH $500
Jack Lohman Colgate WI $200
Richard Mullen San Francisco CA $250
Sean Myers Coopersville MI $200
Dennis Nolan Anchorage AK $300
Dennis Nolan Anchorage AK $200
Joseph Parlante Bethesda MD $300
Malcolm Peabody Washington DC $250
Malcolm Philbrook Jr. Biddeford ME $200
Grant Reeder San Diego CA $200
Victoria Sant Washington DC $5,000
John Singleton Kingsport TN $200
James Stragand Bend OR $200
Lisa Sunderlin Troy MI $200
Glen Vanderhorn Brick NJ $200
Michael Wenzke Boston MA $200
Amos Wilder Chevy Chase MD $200
Julie Wright San Diego CA $1,000
What explains the discrepancy, and how is the discrepancy to be remedied?
3. On July 18, 2024, Founders Council Member Doug Bailey indicated of members of the Founders Council that "Some will have expenses reimbursed.... And a few will be providing their business services at standard rates." Tom Collier of Steptoe and Johnson has provided legal services in his filings with the FEC, which resulted in Unity08 needing to be reclassified as a PAC, not a 527. But there is no indication in the 2nd quarter and 3rd quarter reports of any compensation or reimbursement of Collier or Steptoe and Johnson for their services. Were these services donated? If not, how much compensation or reimbursement is due?
4. The 2nd and 3rd Quarter IRS reports indicate that for over this six month period, Shane Kinkennon has been compensated $7,669.41. Is this a "standard rate" for professional public relations services? Has Mr. Kinkennon been further compensated for his work in this six-month period?
5. Has any group or person other than Unity08 compensated or reimbursed individuals for their Unity08-related work? If so, who and for how much?
6. Unity08 has commissioned a national poll with Princeton Survey Research. I cannot find any description of expenses associated with a national poll on either the 2nd quarter or 3rd quarter list of expenses. Did Unity08 pay for this poll? If so, could you clarify those expenses? If Unity08 did not pay for this poll, who did pay for the poll?
7. On October 11, Unity08 updated its financial disclosures on its website from July, when it had pledged to make disclosure updates every two weeks. As of October 11, Unity08 provided information on donations as of September 1, and pledged that "This list will be updated once a month in the spirit of greater financial transparency, which is sorely lacking in politics today." The list has not been updated in more than two months. When will this list be updated next?
8. As of December 20, the Unity08.com website still refers to the Unity08 organization as a 527 organization, and still refers to its status as under review by the FEC. The FEC has ruled that Unity08 must classify as a PAC. There are no electronic filings with the FEC for Unity08 available for review on its website. Has Unity08 reregistered as a PAC? If so, when will piublic records for the PAC become available?
9. What is the total dollar amount of all donations -- including those under $200 -- received thus far by Unity08?
10. If Unity08 has a positive balance in its accounts, what is that balance? If Unity08 is in debt at this point, by how much? From whom is it obtaining loans, if it is in debt?
11. The Unity08 plan for early 2024 -- that's starting next month -- reads as follows:
In order for Unity08 to compete with a bipartisan Unity Ticket for the White House in 2024, it must be on the ballot in all 50 states. Each state has its own law, and the laws vary dramatically from state to state. But most require thousands of signatures on a petition.
Unity08 is readying its ground troops to begin securing ballot access early in 2024. We will start with only a handful of states first, recruit staff and volunteers, provide guidance and assistance, and provide tools. We’ll learn from what we do well in those states, and learn from our mistakes. And we’ll learn from what our online supporters tells us. Then we’ll incorporate those learnings into our efforts in the next state.
What is the financial plan for Unity08 to accomplish the Unity08 political plan, given the current state of its finances?
As Unity08 itself notes, "Transparency is essential to the public’s trust." There is currently a lack of transparency in the organization's finances, and to be frank that lack of transparency for an ambitious high profile organization has led to an erosion of my trust in Unity08.
I am not now and have never been either a Democrat or a Republican, so I don't have a partisan dog in this fight. I'm not being paid by anyone to ask these questions, and I don't stand to make or lose money based on the answers Unity08 provides. I ask these questions because by my reckoning at this point, the public accounting of Unity08's finances and activities literally does not add up. If Unity08 can answer these questions in a spirit of financial transparency, which is sorely lacking today, I would greatly appreciate it.
