Eric Griego
Democratic 1st Congressional District candidate Eric Griego received $24,000 in severance pay when he quit his job as head of the nonprofit New Mexico Voices for Children to focus on his political campaign.
From the Albuquerque Journal:
“The Federal Election Commission said the payment was not an improper or illegal campaign contribution, but noted in an opinion that Griego was the only New Mexico Voices for Children employee to receive a severance package after voluntarily resigning.
“Griego served as executive director of the nonprofit for four years before resigning in October 2011 to run for Congress. Voices for Children sought an opinion from the FEC in reference to the severance payment of three months’ salary.
“The FEC issued an opinion on Feb. 3 and found the severance payment did not violate a federal law prohibiting contributions to candidates from corporations. The opinion said the payment was valid because it ‘would have been made irrespective of his (Griego’s) candidacy for Congress.’
“…Ed Yoon, Griego’s campaign spokesman, said the payment was granted by a unanimous vote of the New Mexico Voices for Children board of directors and that Griego fully supported the board’s request for an FEC opinion.
“‘Eric wanted complete transparency,’ Yoon said.”
Read the full article here.