Despite the NRA paying a record fine for making illegal campaign donations to Rhode Island politicians, to date, not one current office holder in the state has seen fit to return the money.
The National Rifle Association (NRA) was fined by the RI Board of Elections for funneling illegal donations to RI politicians, including House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello and Senate President M Teresa Paiva-Weed. One estimate puts the total amount of contributions at over $160,000, over a 10 year period from 2004 to 2014. Due to the detective work of Sam Bell, executive director of the Rhode Island Progressive Democrats of America, the NRA was fined $63,000 and the NRA’s Rhode Island PAC was formally dissolved.
Technically, any money received by any candidate in Rhode Island that comes from the NRA Political Victory Fund PAC before January 2014 was illegal. That doesn’t mean that it’s a crime to keep the money after the fact, and it’s likely that the politicians did not know that the campaign donations were illegal before Bell made his case.
That said, the bottom line is that the money these politicians accepted from the NRA is tainted, and the influence this money has on our General Assembly can be felt acutely when observing the legislature in action.
Are you still wondering why our General Assembly can’t seem to pass common sense gun control legislation?
Between 2004 and 2014, House Speaker Nick Mattiello received $2,975 from the NRA. All these donations appear to be illegal, tainted contributions. The Speaker has kept every penny. Seventeen other representatives have also taken thousands of dollars.
Joseph McNamara is the head of the RI Democratic Party, the same party whose national platform calls for banning assault weapons and strengthening gun laws to prevent violence. McNamara accepted $700 in illegal NRA contributions over the years.
During the same 10 year period, Senate President M Teresa Paiva-Weed has accepted, and kept, what appears to be $6,075 in illegal contributions from the NRA. Seventeen other senators took illegal NRA cash, including Senate Majority Leader Domenic Ruggerio, who raked in $3350 and Senate Judiciary Chair Michael McCaffrey, whose committee handles every bill about guns that comes to the Senate, to the tune of$3500.
Rep Jan Malik, who was recently challenged by his primary opponent Jason Knight to return his illegal donations, took $1075. On the last day of the most recent legislative session, Rep Malik voted for a House bill that would have made it easier to get concealed carry permits in RI before changing his vote after the fact.
I went through the campaign finance reports available here, and carefully made a list of all incumbents who have accepted NRA money between 2004 and 2014.
Here’s the list:
In addition to Representatives and Senators, Attorney General Peter Kilmartin has accepted $1150 in illegal donations.
Attorney General KILMARTIN, PETER F 03/30/2004 $200.00
Attorney General KILMARTIN, PETER F 03/07/2006 $250.00
Attorney General KILMARTIN, PETER F 04/27/2007 $200.00
Attorney General KILMARTIN, PETER F 12/31/2009 $200.00
Attorney General KILMARTIN, PETER F 03/04/2009 $300.00
Former Speaker of the House, William Murphy, now a lobbyist, raked in a series of illegal NRA contributions. He now rakes in even more as a lobbyist for gun interests.
Lobbyist MURPHY, WILLIAM J 02/05/2004 $500.00
Lobbyist MURPHY, WILLIAM J 02/05/2004 $500.00
Lobbyist MURPHY, WILLIAM J 04/14/2006 $350.00
Lobbyist MURPHY, WILLIAM J 04/27/2007 $1,000.00
Lobbyist MURPHY, WILLIAM J 03/31/2005 $875.00
Lobbyist MURPHY, WILLIAM J 02/22/2009 $1,000.00
Lobbyist MURPHY, WILLIAM J 01/31/2008 $1,000.00
Representative MATTIELLO, NICHOLAS 11/05/2006 $250.00
Representative MATTIELLO, NICHOLAS 04/27/2007 $150.00
Representative MATTIELLO, NICHOLAS 04/01/2008 $150.00
Representative MATTIELLO, NICHOLAS 07/06/2010 $450.00
Representative MATTIELLO, NICHOLAS 04/04/2011 $450.00
Representative MATTIELLO, NICHOLAS 06/06/2012 $450.00
Representative MATTIELLO, NICHOLAS 02/13/2013 $800.00
Representative MATTIELLO, NICHOLAS 05/28/2009 $225.00
Representative CARNEVALE, JOHN M 06/05/2010 $200.00
Representative CARNEVALE, JOHN M 04/12/2011 $200.00
Representative CHIPPENDALE, MICHAEL W 10/15/2012 $500.00
Representative CORVESE, ARTHUR J 05/08/2004 $300.00
Representative CORVESE, ARTHUR J 05/16/2005 $300.00
Representative CORVESE, ARTHUR J 07/11/2006 $300.00
Representative COSTA, DOREEN MARIE 10/15/2012 $500.00
Representative DESIMONE, JOHN J 07/08/2004 $150.00
Representative FELLELA, DEBORAH A 08/20/2006 $250.00
Representative FELLELA, DEBORAH A 04/27/2007 $100.00
Representative FELLELA, DEBORAH A 01/12/2010 $150.00
Representative FELLELA, DEBORAH A 04/12/2011 $200.00
Representative JACQUARD, ROBERT B 07/19/2004 $300.00
Representative JACQUARD, ROBERT B 10/20/2004 $500.00
Representative JACQUARD, ROBERT B 10/12/2006 $350.00
Representative JACQUARD, ROBERT B 04/12/2011 $200.00
Representative KENNEDY, BRIAN PATRICK 07/19/2004 $400.00
Representative KENNEDY, BRIAN PATRICK 08/02/2006 $400.00
Representative KENNEDY, BRIAN PATRICK 06/11/2009 $400.00
Representative KENNEDY, BRIAN PATRICK 06/05/2010 $375.00
Representative KENNEDY, BRIAN PATRICK 04/12/2011 $375.00
Representative LIMA, CHARLENE 04/06/2004 $300.00
Representative MACBETH, KAREN 11/01/2009 $100.00
Representative MACBETH, KAREN 05/27/2010 $200.00
Representative MACBETH, KAREN 12/08/2011 $200.00
Representative MALIK, JAN 08/18/2004 $200.00
Representative MALIK, JAN 11/19/2004 $250.00
Representative MALIK, JAN 06/29/2005 $225.00
Representative MALIK, JAN 09/06/2006 $300.00
Representative MALIK, JAN 06/05/2010 $300.00
Representative MCNAMARA, JOSEPH 05/26/2004 $200.00
Representative MCNAMARA, JOSEPH 05/25/2005 $300.00
Representative MCNAMARA, JOSEPH 06/16/2011 $200.00
Representative MELO, HELIO 03/10/2010 $225.00
Representative MELO, HELIO 04/12/2011 $200.00
Representative NEWBERRY, BRIAN C 11/03/2006 $300.00
Representative NEWBERRY, BRIAN C 05/29/2009 $150.00
Representative NEWBERRY, BRIAN C 02/24/2010 $150.00
Representative NEWBERRY, BRIAN C 06/29/2011 $200.00
Representative NEWBERRY, BRIAN C 04/15/2013 $250.00
Representative TRILLO, JOSEPH A 04/02/2004 $100.00
Representative TRILLO, JOSEPH A 04/05/2004 $500.00
Representative TRILLO, JOSEPH A 04/06/2004 $200.00
Representative TRILLO, JOSEPH A 04/07/2004 $100.00
Representative TRILLO, JOSEPH A 04/22/2004 $150.00
Representative TRILLO, JOSEPH A 06/29/2005 $200.00
Representative TRILLO, JOSEPH A 06/15/2006 $300.00
Representative TRILLO, JOSEPH A 07/24/2007 $300.00
Representative TRILLO, JOSEPH A 05/17/2008 $300.00
Representative TRILLO, JOSEPH A 05/29/2009 $300.00
Representative TRILLO, JOSEPH A 06/05/2010 $300.00
Representative TRILLO, JOSEPH A 04/12/2011 $200.00
Representative UCCI, STEPHEN R 11/19/2004 $500.00
Representative UCCI, STEPHEN R 08/21/2006 $250.00
Representative UCCI, STEPHEN R 11/02/2006 $200.00
Representative UCCI, STEPHEN R 07/27/2007 $300.00
Representative UCCI, STEPHEN R 06/29/2009 $200.00
Representative UCCI, STEPHEN R 06/29/2009 $200.00
Representative UCCI, STEPHEN R 06/25/2011 $200.00
Representative UCCI, STEPHEN R 06/15/2010 $200.00
Representative WINFIELD, THOMAS J 08/22/2004 $200.00
Representative WINFIELD, THOMAS J 06/15/2006 $200.00
Representative WINFIELD, THOMAS J 11/06/2006 $90.00
Representative WINFIELD, THOMAS J 08/10/2007 $225.00
Senator PAIVA WEED, M TERESA 02/24/2011 $1,000.00
Senator PAIVA WEED, M TERESA 02/02/2012 $1,000.00
Senator PAIVA WEED, M TERESA 08/12/2013 $800.00
Senator PAIVA WEED, M TERESA 04/22/2004 $375.00
Senator PAIVA WEED, M TERESA 05/14/2007 $500.00
Senator PAIVA WEED, M TERESA 05/17/2008 $400.00
Senator PAIVA WEED, M TERESA 02/11/2009 $1,000.00
Senator PAIVA WEED, M TERESA 02/24/2010 $1,000.00
Senator CICCONE III, FRANK A 07/10/2004 $150.00
Senator CICCONE III, FRANK A 05/25/2005 $225.00
Senator CICCONE III, FRANK A 06/21/2006 $300.00
Senator CICCONE III, FRANK A 11/03/2006 $300.00
Senator CICCONE III, FRANK A 05/07/2007 $300.00
Senator CICCONE III, FRANK A 04/15/2008 $300.00
Senator CICCONE III, FRANK A 06/03/2009 $300.00
Senator CICCONE III, FRANK A 06/12/2010 $300.00
Senator CICCONE III, FRANK A 06/21/2013 $400.00
Senator COTE, MARC A 03/23/2004 $200.00
Senator COTE, MARC A 05/16/2005 $200.00
Senator COTE, MARC A 06/15/2006 $200.00
Senator COTE, MARC A 04/16/2008 $200.00
Senator COTE, MARC A 04/06/2010 $200.00
Senator DAPONTE, DANIEL 02/24/2010 $200.00
Senator DAPONTE, DANIEL 04/12/2011 $200.00
Senator DOYLE II, JAMES E 06/17/2006 $150.00
Senator DOYLE II, JAMES E 03/31/2008 $300.00
Senator FELAG JR, WALTER S 07/04/2004 $200.00
Senator FELAG JR, WALTER S 09/01/2006 $300.00
Senator FELAG JR, WALTER S 06/15/2008 $300.00
Senator FELAG JR, WALTER S 03/03/2010 $300.00
Senator FELAG JR, WALTER S 04/12/2011 $300.00
Senator FOGARTY, PAUL W 05/13/2004 $100.00
Senator FOGARTY, PAUL W 07/01/2005 $150.00
Senator FOGARTY, PAUL W 09/21/2007 $150.00
Senator FOGARTY, PAUL W 01/10/2008 $150.00
Senator FOGARTY, PAUL W 06/11/2009 $200.00
Senator GALLO, HANNA M 06/01/2004 $150.00
Senator GALLO, HANNA M 05/24/2005 $150.00
Senator GALLO, HANNA M 05/17/2008 $150.00
Senator GALLO, HANNA M 08/05/2009 $200.00
Senator GALLO, HANNA M 04/28/2011 $200.00
Senator GALLO, HANNA M 04/12/2011 $200.00
Senator GOODWIN, MARYELLEN 08/16/2004 $150.00
Senator GOODWIN, MARYELLEN 07/09/2010 $200.00
Senator GOODWIN, MARYELLEN 05/13/2011 $200.00
Senator LYNCH PRATA, ERIN P 06/08/2009 $200.00
Senator LYNCH PRATA, ERIN P 06/10/2010 $200.00
Senator LYNCH PRATA, ERIN P 04/12/2011 $200.00
Senator MCCAFFREY, MICHAEL J 07/21/2004 $500.00
Senator MCCAFFREY, MICHAEL J 07/21/2005 $750.00
Senator MCCAFFREY, MICHAEL J 08/06/2006 $750.00
Senator MCCAFFREY, MICHAEL J 08/07/2007 $750.00
Senator MCCAFFREY, MICHAEL J 06/24/2008 $750.00
Senator MCCAFFREY, MICHAEL J 06/05/2009 $750.00
Senator MCCAFFREY, MICHAEL J 06/15/2010 $750.00
Senator MCCAFFREY, MICHAEL J 05/20/2011 $750.00
Senator MCCAFFREY, MICHAEL J 06/28/2013 $400.00
Senator PICARD, ROGER A 07/19/2004 $200.00
Senator PICARD, ROGER A 08/03/2005 $200.00
Senator PICARD, ROGER A 05/15/2006 $250.00
Senator PICARD, ROGER A 06/20/2009 $300.00
Senator PICARD, ROGER A 06/12/2010 $150.00
Senator RAPTAKIS, LEONIDAS P 05/10/2006 $300.00
Senator RAPTAKIS, LEONIDAS P 07/24/2007 $300.00
Senator RAPTAKIS, LEONIDAS P 06/30/2008 $300.00
Senator RAPTAKIS, LEONIDAS P 02/26/2013 $250.00
Senator RAPTAKIS, LEONIDAS P 07/19/2004 $300.00
Senator RUGGERIO, DOMINICK J 05/19/2004 $300.00
Senator RUGGERIO, DOMINICK J 05/25/2005 $300.00
Senator RUGGERIO, DOMINICK J 05/10/2006 $300.00
Senator RUGGERIO, DOMINICK J 04/27/2007 $300.00
Senator RUGGERIO, DOMINICK J 05/17/2008 $300.00
Senator RUGGERIO, DOMINICK J 02/21/2013 $500.00
Senator RUGGERIO, DOMINICK J 05/29/2009 $300.00
Senator RUGGERIO, DOMINICK J 02/24/2011 $450.00
Senator RUGGERIO, DOMINICK J 02/08/2012 $500.00
Senator SERPA, PATRICIA A 07/01/2009 $150.00
Senator SERPA, PATRICIA A 06/05/2010 $150.00
Senator SERPA, PATRICIA A 07/18/2011 $200.00
Senator SERPA, PATRICIA A 03/30/2013 $250.00
Senator SHEEHAN, JAMES C 05/04/2004 $150.00
Senator SHEEHAN, JAMES C 07/08/2005 $150.00
Senator SHEEHAN, JAMES C 07/24/2007 $100.00
Senator SOSNOWSKI, V SUSAN 07/28/2004 $200.00
Senator SOSNOWSKI, V SUSAN 10/18/2004 $100.00
Senator SOSNOWSKI, V SUSAN 04/08/2008 $200.00
Senator SOSNOWSKI, V SUSAN 03/02/2010 $200.00
Senator SOSNOWSKI, V SUSAN 06/16/2011 $200.00
Senator WALASKA, WILLIAM A 04/26/2004 $300.00
Senator WALASKA, WILLIAM A 04/05/2005 $300.00
Senator WALASKA, WILLIAM A 09/01/2006 $300.00
Senator WALASKA, WILLIAM A 05/02/2007 $300.00
Senator WALASKA, WILLIAM A 05/17/2008 $300.00
Senator WALASKA, WILLIAM A 06/07/2009 $300.00
Senator WALASKA, WILLIAM A 06/05/2010 $300.00
Senator WALASKA, WILLIAM A 04/12/2011 $300.00
RI HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE 04/29/2004 $300.00
RI HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE 09/15/2005 $300.00
RI HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE 04/06/2006 $200.00
SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE 04/21/2004 $625.00
SENATE DEMOCRATS 2004 PAC 08/16/2004 $600.00