Roll Call: “Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy has spent more than $5,500 from his campaign fund since 2014 on membership dues to the Penn Club of New York City, an elite private club more than 1,000 miles from the Republican’s hometown of Baton Rouge, disclosures with the Federal Election Commission show.”
“Cassidy has also disclosed spending another $650 in campaign funds on membership fees closer to home at the Petroleum Club of Morgan City in Louisiana, a social club founded by businessmen in the oil industry. The club offers fine dining, events and drinks.”
“But FEC rules say membership dues for country clubs, health clubs or ‘other nonpolitical organizations’ are considered personal uses that cannot be paid from campaign accounts ‘unless the payments are made in connection with a specific fundraising event that takes place on the organization’s premises.'”
“Cassidy campaign spokesman Ty Bofferding denied any wrongdoing in an emailed statement: ‘The Senator uses the Penn Club for campaign events and we believe everything was done appropriately.'”