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Disgraced Former Congressman Paid Lauren Cooley Super PAC Days Before Broward Trump Rally

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Last August, REDBROWARD exposed how disgraced ex-Congressman Mark Foley created bad press for President-elect Donald J. Trump at a Broward county rally. Multiple sources told REDBROWARD that Lauren Cooley, a twenty-four year old local musician, controlled the seating arrangements in the section behind Donald Trump. These sources stated Cooley was responsible for seating Foley behind the podium at the Trump rally in Sunrise, Florida. Foley’s presence at the rally was used by the liberal media to blunt Trump’s criticism of Hillary Clinton allowing the father of the Pulse nightclub terrorist to sit behind her at a recent Orlando rally.

In 2006, Mark Foley was forced to resign from office after it was revealed he sent sexually charged messages to underage congressional pages. At the time Foley said, “I am deeply sorry and I apologize for letting down my family and the people of Florida I have had the privilege to represent.” The Foley scandal helped Democrats retake control of Congress in 2006.

REDBROWARD’s sources said Cooley was very “hands on” in the seating process. She even threatened to have security remove people who did not belong in her section. Of course, Cooley may not have been aware of this since she was just 14 years old at the time of the Foley scandal. In fact, some Cooley allies claimed she was unaware of Foley’s history or identity.

FOLEY CONTRIBUTED TO COOLEY’S CAMPUS RED SUPER PAC

According to Campus Red PAC financial reports filed with the Federal Election Commission, Mark Foley’s political committee gave Cooley’s group $2,500 just 4 days before the Trump rally in Sunrise. Is it possible Cooley did not know the identity of one of her first big donors? Did Foley write the check to get preferential seating?

Last week, REDBROWARD reported Cooley received payments from her own super PAC.

As of September 30, 2016, Cooley and treasurer Cade Marsh received nearly 80% of Campus Red PAC expenses.

Cooley received “retainer” payments of $2,000 each in August and September. Marsh, head of a Florida college Republican group, received the same retainer payments.

In September, Cooley and Marsh received large “reimbursement” payments. There were no other details or itemization for these payments.

Marsh received a $5,971.29 reimbursement while Lauren Cooley received a $4,331.47 reimbursement payment.

As of September 30, 2016 Cooley was paid $8,33.47 by her Campus Red PAC. Records covering October and November have not been filed. As of publication, it is unclear whether Cooley and Marsh received further retainer or reimbursement payments.

Cooley and Marsh received $18,302.76 out the $23,062 operating expenses through September.

Cooley is currently running to be the vice chair of the Broward Republican Executive Committee (BREC). Several BREC members and Trump volunteers expressed dismay over the Foley payments to Campus Red PAC. One volunteer told REDBROWARD, “That’s pretty underhanded. Trump did not need more fodder for the media.”

Broward Republican Vice Chair Hopeful Lauren Cooley Made Big Bucks From Her Super PAC

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Federal elections forms show Broward Republican Party vice chair candidate Lauren Cooley made big bucks from a “Super PAC” she formed in June 2016. Cooley, a twenty-four year old musician, is listed as the chairman of the Campus Red PAC. The political action committee is registered at her parents’ home address in Fort Lauderdale.

Cooley is using her Campus Red PAC as the main rationale for Broward Republican Executive Committee (BREC) members to elect her vice-chair in December. In an email to BREC members, Cooley said she founded Campus Red PAC to register and mobilize the “next generation” of college Republicans. She boasts of an army of paid staff signing up 11,000 college students at Florida universities.

Cooley wrote, “In less than 6 months, I fundraised just under 75 thousand dollars, hired, trained, and managed 15+ paid staff, and executed a cutting edge field program, resulting in the registration of roughly 11,000 conservative college students, all in the state of Florida.”

But records filed with the Federal Elections Commission show Cooley and her Campus Red PAC co-founder pocketed most of the money raised by her committee. As of September 30, 2016, Cooley and treasurer Cade Marsh received nearly 80% of Campus Red PAC expenses.

Cooley received “retainer” payments of $2,000 each in August and September. Marsh, head of a Florida college Republican group, received the same retainer payments.

In September, Cooley and Marsh received large “reimbursement” payments. There were no other details or itemization for these payments.

Marsh received a $5,971.29 reimbursement while Lauren Cooley received a $4,331.47 reimbursement payment.

As of September 30, 2016 Cooley was paid $8,33.47 by her Campus Red PAC. Records covering October and November have not been filed. As of publication, it is unclear whether Cooley and Marsh received further retainer or reimbursement payments.

Cooley and Marsh received $18,302.76 out the $23,062 operating expenses through September.

The Campus Red PAC records show other paid staff received far less than Cooley. As of September, three college staffers received $250 each as “independent” contractors. The Nova Southeastern University College Republicans received a $150 payment, while the UCF College Republicans got a $100 payment. 

Other Campus Red PAC expenses included airfare on JetBlue, hotel accommodations in Orlando, Saint Augustine and Washington, D.C. 

Campus Red PAC paid more than $1,000 for an event at the exclusive Tower Club in downtown Fort Lauderdale. 

Cooley spent nearly $500 on a t-shirt order from Edco Trophies in Fort Lauderdale.

In her campaign email, Cooley wrote, “I would like to bring this experience of fundraising and running a full-scale, state-wide campaign to BREC.” While there may be nothing wrong with the Cooley payments, it’s doubtful many BREC members want leadership skilled at making money off the hard work of grassroots volunteers.

Also worrisome, did Chair candidate Rico Petrocelli do his due diligence into Campus Red PAC before selecting Cooley to run on his slate of officers?

Will BREC members see “RED” over Cooley’s PAC? Stay tuned…

Lauren Cooley