Chuck Schumer presides over a slim majority in the U.S. Senate that is currently split 50/50 between the two parties.
Schumer and the Democrats can’t afford to make many mistakes during the 2022 midterms.
And now these four unexpected felony charges could end up costing Chuck Schumer his job.
Experts are predicting that the race for the U.S. Senate in Wisconsin, where Senator Ron Johnson is retiring, could determine which party controls Congress’s Upper Chamber after 2022.
That means all eyes are watching Wisconsin.
Which is bad news because Milwaukee City Councilwoman and Democrat U.S. Senate candidate Chantia Lewis is facing four felony charges for campaign finance violations.
The Hill reported on the news:
Milwaukee City Councilwoman Chantia Lewis, who is running for the Senate seat held by Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), was charged Tuesday with four felonies for allegedly stealing $21,000 from her own campaign and lying about it.
The criminal complaint said Lewis used funds from her campaign to travel to a worship conference in Florida, pay tuition for classes at a bible college and go on family trips, as well as pay for personal expenses like car and credit card bills, TMJ4 reports.
The complaint also stated that Lewis made more than 20 inappropriate ATM cash withdrawals totaling more than $5,000 from her campaign money between 2016 and 2020, according to the local news outlet.
Democrats almost never accept personal responsibility for their actions.
Par for the course, Lewis – who claims she’s innocent – is laying the blame for the violations on inexperienced staff.
“We will make the necessary corrections. But make no mistake, I am innocent of any criminal wrongdoing,” Lewis claimed. “As a first-time candidate in 2016, and like many first-time grassroot candidates, I self-funded much of my campaign. My campaign was run by my family and a team of amazing supporters. We did our very best to run a positive and compliant campaign. I am confident that once this is over, I will be absolved.”
When it comes to the race in Wisconsin, as well as those in other battleground states, Democrats can ill afford such mistakes.
And when something like a scandal in the stretch before 2022 or simply nominating the wrong candidate could cost Chuck Schumer his majority.
Political Animal News will keep you up-to-date on any new developments in this ongoing story.
