Wisconsin State Journal Quotes Trevor Potter: John Doe Prosecution Focuses on Coordination

The Wisconsin State Journal spoke with Trevor Potter concerning a secret John Doe investigation of recent recall campaigns. The investigation is attempting to determine whether the campaigns coordinated with groups engaged in so-called "issue advocacy." Such advocacy is considered as contributions to a candidate's campaign and must be reported. For the complete article, please visit Wisconsin State Journal's website.

Excerpt taken from the article.

"I think the prosecution is correct that advertising spending coordinated with a campaign and which advances the objectives of a campaign is a contribution to the campaign, whether or not it is express advocacy," said Trevor Potter, a former chairman of the Federal Election Commission and former counsel to the John McCain and George H.W. Bush presidential campaigns.

"It need not even be speech — lending a campaign cars or office space would similarly be an in-kind contribution because it is something of value to a campaign and received by it," he said.