Straw donor

A straw donor is a person who illegally uses another person's money to make a political contribution in their own name.

United States

In the United States, making a political contribution in another person's name is illegal, as is agreeing to be the named donor with someone else's money. For example, a straw donor may contribute to a political campaign before being reimbursed by another, who is using that person as a conduit to exceed the limits on campaign contributions under the laws of a jurisdiction.

In federal elections in the United States, straw donor schemes are illegal under 52 U.S.C. § 30122, which states:

No person shall make a contribution in the name of another person or knowingly permit his name to be used to effect such a contribution, and no person shall knowingly accept a contribution made by one person in the name of another person.

This section was enacted as part of the Federal Election Campaign Act in 1971.

Dinesh D'Souza

In 2014, conservative political commentator, author, and film-maker Dinesh D'Souza, was charged with and convicted of reimbursing others $20,000 for donations to 2012 Senate candidate Wendy Long, a New York Republican. President Trump pardoned D'Souza May 31, 2018.

Jeffrey E. Thompson

In 2016, Jeffrey E. Thompson was sentenced to three months in prison, three years of probation, and a $10,000 fine for the illegal funding through straw donors of several political candidates, including Hillary Clinton in her 2008 presidential bid and Vincent Gray in his 2010 run for mayor of Washington, D.C.