The deputy chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa resigned Wednesday after he was named in a complaint that alleges federal campaign finance violations.
Christopher Raymond, a top aide in Hanabusa’s Washington, D.C., office, had sent an email to Hanabusa’s advisers in June claiming that the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America was interested in independent political spending on behalf of Hanabusa’s U.S. Senate campaign. Raymond offered to put PhRMA executives in touch with Hanabusa’s advisers.
Daniel Hempey, a Kauai attorney, filed a complaint Tuesday with the Federal Election Commission alleging improper coordination between Hanabusa’s congressional office, her campaign and the drug lobby.
Federal law prohibits candidates and interest groups from coordinating independent political spending.
"I have not violated any campaign finance laws, and it is unfortunate what a distraction this misunderstanding has become," Raymond said in a statement. "Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa is the most qualified person to serve as Hawaii’s next U.S. senator and I have been honored and privileged to work for her.
"This is a once-in-a-generation Senate race and, as such, the conversation should be focused on Colleen’s proven track record and clearly demonstrated leadership. In an effort to bring the conversation back to what’s important — Colleen’s vast experience and myriad accomplishments — I am resigning my position as deputy chief of staff effective immediately. I wish her, the congressional staff, and the people of Hawaii the very best."
Hanabusa, in a statement, thanked Raymond for his service. "Chris Raymond worked hard to help me represent the people of Hawaii’s 1st Congressional District and his efforts helped build a better future for my constituents," she said. "I want to thank Chris for his service and I wish him well in all of his future endeavors."
Hanabusa’s campaign has said that Raymond was inflating his influence with the campaign and that there was no coordination with PhRMA on independent political spending.
A PhRMA spokesman also told the Washington Post that the interest group was not planning an independent expenditure on Hanabusa’s behalf, but had been discussing a potential drug industry fundraiser for the congresswoman.
Hanabusa is challenging U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz in the Democratic primary.
Hempey, a Lihue attorney, said the people of Hawaii deserve to know whether federal campaign finance law was violated. He also cited Hanabusa’s and Schatz’s different views on whether drug companies should be mandated to offer rebates to the government for low-income seniors in Medicare Part D, as the companies do for Medicaid and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Hanabusa opposes mandatory rebates for Medicare Part D because she worries that seniors would be exposed to higher drug costs. Schatz favors requiring the rebates in law.
"The context of this complaint is a debate over whether elderly people are going to pay more or less for their medicine," Hempey said in a statement. "I saw that the candidates were split on that issue. And I was shocked to learn that the Hanabusa campaign appeared to be actively coordinating with those same corporations that would profit from her position, to the detriment of some of our most vulnerable citizens."
