Wisconsin GOP candidate faces scrutiny over campaign ‘refunds’ to friends and family

Wisconsin GOP congressional candidate and state Sen. André Jacque appears to be dipping into his previous state campaign funds to help provide for his congressional campaign, as first reported by WisPolitics. 

Jacque’s financial reports sparked controversy after he began refunding payments to family, friends and other lawmakers from his state campaign finance report in March, totaling over $23,000. He also recorded loan repayments from the campaign to himself personally, which added up to $15,000.

The congressional candidate’s federal campaign report received contributions from many of those same people totaling over $30,000 in April, the following month. Jacque also contributed $16,000 from his personal account during that time. 

The Federal Election Committee (FEC) prohibits transfers of funds from a candidate’s campaign account for a non-federal election to their committee for a federal election. However, the candidate can return assets from the state account, allowing the donors to contribute to the federal campaign.  

He also recorded multiple exchanges with his legislative colleagues. Jacque donated to their campaigns and, in many cases, received the same or similar donation to his federal campaign account.

“My colleagues and I have always operated with transparency and integrity,” Jacque responded in a statement. “Any suggestion that these contributions were meant to be reciprocated is entirely false and tarnishes the reputation of dedicated conservative lawmakers.”

Jacque has received backlash about his financial disclosures, especially from Republicans Tony Wied and Roger Roth, the candidates running against Jacque for Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District seat.

“No political trick is too dirty for Andre Jacque and his team of Never Trumpers,” Wied’s campaign manager, Aidan Strongreen, said in a statement. “Jacque is exactly the type of sleazy career politician Wisconsin voters will reject on August 13th.”

In comparison to his opponents, Jacque’s campaign has been severely underfunded; both Roth and Wied have raised triple the amount of money than the state senator from De Pere.

Wisconsin’s Republican Primary is on Aug. 13, just under two weeks away.