In response to my query about whether the wingnuts submitting “Mickey Mouse” contributions on the Obama website are committing wire fraud, a lawyer-reader writes:
You are likely correct that the wingnuts could be charged under the wire fraud statute. Much more directly, however, such wignuts are violating the Federal Election Campaign Act (the statute amended by McCain-Feingold). 2 U.S.C. 441f provides in relevant part that: “No person shall make a contribution in the name of another person.” This provision carries criminal penalties.I’m pretty sure “Osama Bin Laden” and “William Ayers” each qualify as “the name of another person.” Someone needs to file a complaint with the FEC.