OMAHA, Neb.—Nebraska Sen.-elect Mike Johanns has told the Federal Election Commission that one of his longtime aides mishandled a cash campaign contribution in violation of federal law.
Johanns campaign manager Chris Peterson accepted $1,000 in cash from Tydd Rohrbough of rural Greenwood in February. It’s against FEC rules to make a cash contribution of more than $100.
In a Wednesday letter to the FEC, Johanns’ campaign attorney J.L. Spray said Peterson deposited some of the cash in amounts of $50 or less and reported them as separate anonymous contributions.
The Republican Johanns has rescinded his offer to make Peterson his deputy chief of staff in his Lincoln Senate office. Johanns also has refunded the $1,000 to Rohrbough.
Peterson didn’t return a message left on his cell phone by The Associated Press.
Johanns said Peterson called him Tuesday afternoon to tell him what he had done. Peterson offered no explanation, Johanns said.
“He said this was something that was bothering him,” Johanns said. “He had sought the advice of an attorney, and the attorney’s advice was you have to tell the senator-elect. So he was making the call to tell me what had happened. I think ultimately, as we were nearing taking office, he really decided he needed legal advice on his course of action.”
FEC spokeswoman Mary Brandenberger said she couldn’t comment on any specific case. But she said the FEC reviews reported violations, conducts its own investigation and then decides whether to take civil action—usually a fine.
FEC regulations require that if a cash donation for more than $100 is received, the entire amount should be deposited in the campaign account, and then the donor should be issued a refund for the amount over $100, Brandenberger said.
Peterson is a longtime figure in Nebraska politics. He had worked in several capacities for Johanns, dating to Johanns’ days as Nebraska governor. He was Johanns’ spokesman and assistant chief of staff, 1998-2003, when he left to become executive director for the Nebraska Republican Party.
As head of the state GOP, Peterson helped facilitate Johanns’ appointment as U.S. agriculture secretary in 2005. He had called Johanns to see whether he would be interested in the USDA job. When Johanns said yes, Peterson let the White House know. Johanns resigned as ag secretary in 2007 to run for the Senate seat being vacated by fellow Republican Chuck Hagel.
“Chris worked around me for 10 years. When he called and started telling me what he had done, it was a shock,” Johanns said. “I just couldn’t believe it. But those are the facts I deal with, and now my goal is to work with the FEC and get them the information they need, answer their questions and work with them in any way we can.”
Rohrbough, 37, is chief executive officer of Cornhusker Energy, an ethanol plant in Lexington. Rohrbough said Johanns, as governor, attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the ethanol plant in 2004, and he has spoken with Johanns off and on about issues affecting the ethanol industry.
Said Johanns: “I quite honestly don’t remember him. If I saw him and associated name and face, I would have recollection. This is somebody who I would meet here and there. That’s my best guess.”
According to Spray’s letter to the FEC, Rohrbough handed Peterson an envelope containing $1,000 in cash in February. Rohrbough said he remembered making the donation at a fundraising function, but he didn’t remember whether he gave Peterson a check or cash.
“I didn’t know there was anything wrong with it,” Rohrbough said. “It’s one of those things that’s more complicated than it ever should be. I understand there are limitations on what you can give and stuff like that. I’m not a large donor to anyone.”
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