March 10, 2008 - 1:00pm
Clinton finance committee member leaves after unauthorized charges
By Matt FriedmanA member of the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign’s finance committee resigned last month after she said the campaign billed her credit card thousands of dollars in unauthorized charges. She is now backing Barack Obama, according to a post she made on Bluejersey.com.
Kathy Callahan, a Psychotherapist from Ridgefield, said that after making an initial donation of $2,000 to the Clinton campaign with her credit card, she was repeatedly charged at least $3,500 more.
“They had my number on file and they kept using it like it was their own. I was blindsided,” she said in a telephone interview with PolitickerNJ.
After trying to get her money back, Callahan said that a Clinton official said “"Kathy Callahan, you are going to be with us all the way to the White House...So let's leave the money where it is and we'll save time on inevitable future donations and transactions!"
Reports filed with the Federal Election Commission show Callahan donating $5,500 to the Clinton campaign between March and October of 2007 – that’s $900 more than the legal limit of $4,600 for the primary and general elections combined. She received $5,800 back from the campaign -- $1,200 on November 2nd and three separate checks for a total of $4,600 in December.
After a month of trying and failing to get the bulk of her money back, with the exception of the one refund in November, Callahan eventually filed a report with the Ridgefield Police Department – at which point she said she was reimbursed her money by the campaign.
Contributors
Wally Edge
Besides giving a shout out to Wally Edge at Wednesday's New Jersey Legislative Correspondents Association Dinner ("As Wally always says, ... >
Bob Torricelli
Everything that I admire and fear about the Democratic Party was on display this week. The compassion for creating affordable housing and the ... >
Michael Patrick Carroll
McCain announce his intention to appoint real judges, and both teh Times and the Journal muff the story. >
Debbie Holtz
Let’s get this straight. Does U.S. Attorney Chris Christie think he only has a role to play when there’s a violation of US federal ... >
Steve Lonegan
FOR 190 YEARS, New Jersey had no income tax and no sales tax. As recently as 1966, it had only the third-highest property taxes in the nation.
>
Dr. Joseph Marbach
The budget proposed by Gov. Jon Corzine has produced myriad negative reactions, featuring various interests seeking to limit the impact of the cuts ... >
Rob Tornoe
NATIONAL CARTOON: Bush sacrificed golf for the troops >
Michael P. Riccards
With her victory by ten points in Pennsylvania, Hillary Clinton has re emerged as a very viable candidate for the Democratic nomination. It is ... >
Carla Katz
A hugely misguided attempt to eliminate the Department of Agriculture is the spark which has lit an angry fire which took over West State street ... >
Poll
PolitickerNJ Partners
Top Tags
Most Active Stories
- Does Lautenberg have an Unanue problem?
- Election Results: Vas defeated in Perth Amboy, Barse loses in Vineland, Orechio upset in Nutley
- Updated: Handicapping the Senate & House primaries
- What's happening in seven key towns
- Upset of the night: Vas loses re-election in Perth Amboy
- Will Bennett replace Puharic?
- The future of Joe Vas
- Alleging retaliatory harassment, Katz sues CWA officials
- Hawkins and Codey celebrate big win
- Menendez picks O'Brien to replace Zapien
- Dr. Bones goes to Washington
- PoliticsNJ.com Power List 2007
- Eleven arrested in bribery scandal
- Lyndhurst GOP, nearly all of them, switching parties
- Lobbyist arrested
- Governor Paralysis
- Who is the best State Party Chairman in New Jersey
- KYRILLOS, BECK, KEAN & HANDLIN VOW WORK TO KEEP SEASTREAK FERRY UP AND RUNNING
- Two N.J. super delegates go to Obama; Norcross backs Obama; key Clinton supporters endorse Obama
- At energy policy meeting, Rose fights with cabinet and walks away
Quote of the Day
May 15, 2008
"As Wally always says, 'Hold Me Accountable.'" -- Gov. Jon Corzine, at the New Jersey Legislative Correspondents Dinner
-05/14/08
Recent Press Releases
In the News
Read the expanded Wake Up Call, our summary of today’s news media coverage.
Today’s Must Reads:
Zimmer spells out a McCain-like health care plan― Star-Ledger
Are Democrats making peace with the'burbs?― Star-Ledger
Where GOP rivals stand in New Jersey's Third― Philadelphia Inquirer
Labor leader sues union officials for retaliation― Star-Ledger
Hawkins and Codey celebrate big win― PolitickerNJ.com
Romano and slate sweep Team Barse― The Daily Journal
Democrats win easily in Delran― Philadelphia Inquirer
City's voters deliver an upset― The Record
Maverick label a fit for Sabrin― Courier-Post
PolitickerNJ.com Jobs
Syndicate
Wow
And I wonder how many more people will come forward with the same issue
Matt as per our enjoyable conversation/interview
Leaving was an agonizing process filled with stops and starts...Being optimistic -I wanted to believe all the unauthorized charges and double billing for events that I in fact attended was a technical error -in the computer system...I really wanted to believe that. When Hillary campaign returned one check to me in November...I thought "That's a good sign...The rest of the money is SURELY on the way! And I will carry on and get back to getting Hillary elected!"
No checks came...I emailed and called NYC finance directors and Matt McQuenney in Compliance at HRC VA headquarters and he told me, "Kathy, you are not the only one this is happening to...I'm working on finding out where and who the charges are coming from here...I have returned money to other donors...I'll get back to you! I want to get to the bottom of this!" I knew he was a stand-up guy and the best contact that I had at HRC campaign. I waited and waited...And wondered why my word and request to get a refund up to the $2, 000 that I authorized wasn't enough!
I spoke to an expert who reviewed all the charges and he told me in no uncertain terms: Kathy, I know you want to believe this is a computer error...I'm sorry to say someone at the campaign who had access to your Visa Card info made these charges...Visa charges like this just don't happen...Someone attributed your card to specific donations!
I was crushed. Heartbroken. Still!
I gave all that I had to give from day one -March 16 2007 at the FINANCE kick-off meeting ...Terry McAuliffe was there who I like enormously and Hillary herself called in on the speaker phone!
...I met so many wonderful people on the Hillary finance committee -DEMOCRATS -that I admire and respect!
The last event that I attended was Tony Bennett...I had a ticket and I love Tony Bennett...And it was Christmas time and I wanted to see committee friends and volunteers and DEMS that I had met since last March and made a good connection with...It was Extremely hard to make the break...I was so enthusiastic and committed to giving 100% on the Hillary finance committee conference calls and meetings -sharing ideas...I religiously spoke to a countless number of people everyday via email and phone on behalf of the Senator from NY's candidacy!
I have learned from the entire ordeal...and discovered through direct experience that I am more of a grassroots activist -and "Obama kind of" campaigner who believes power comes from from the people -thousands of people from the bottom to the top! Small donations from people like me -make a big difference and mean a whole lot! -And not so much for me anymore: -the other way around.
i worked with HIV Positive Kids, Teens and Parents
cross posted at bluejersey.com
I worked with HIV Positive kids, teens...at a Catholic Institution for a year...a Dream Come True assignment...Oct 06 - Dec 07. I served as the mental health consultant to Drs., RN's and patients! The entire year working there is one of the highlighlights of my amazing career.
Samantha Maltzman Finance Director knew how much I earned ...I was fully vetted and I talked to her every other day about the sacrifices that I was making! Imagine the salary at a fine Catholic institution...But well worth it! I presented and taught my original self care Psychological-CPR Strategies and Tools to the kids! My motto: Yes You Can Access Your Hidden Abilities! And they did! Kathy Callahan, LCSW