Missouri House Special Investigative Committee on Oversight – Michael Hafner – afternoon

29 Tuesday May 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance, Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Governor, Missouri House, Missouri Senate

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Eric Greitens, hearing, impeachment, investigation, Michael Hafner, missouri, Missouri House Special Investigative Committee on Oversight, social media, Twitter

“You don’t expect someone with a degree in ethics to acquire a list by other than lawful means.”

The Missouri House Special Investigative Committee on Oversight charged with investigating Governor Eric Greitens (r) heard testimony from Michael Hafner, a political consultant who worked for the campaign early on.

Also this afternoon:

Scott Charton @ScottCharton
The @EricGreitens House of Cards is collapsing this afternoon. Cole County Circuit Court ruling to open secret records. Devastating sworn #moleg testimony on breaking campaign finance laws. #Greitens is grabbing his rappeling gear for Capitol exit. #moleg #mogov
3:15 PM – 29 May 2018 from Missouri, USA

Ruh, roh.

My running comments on the testimony, via Twitter:

Missouri House Special Investigative Committee on Oversight – hearing live stream
Michael Hafner – $4000 a month, work out of EG’s office 3 or so days a week.

Missouri House Special Investigative Committee on Oversight – hearing live stream
Michael Hafner – A lot of time 3 or 4 day a week, but not a full time employee.

Michael Hafner – “Had other discussions with campaign finance attorneys [about 501c] fundraising.” “They had a high billable rate [DC attorneys], so I was told to keep the time to a minimum.”

Michael Hafner – The compilation of multiple campaign donor lists when MH worked for EG campaign. MH did not use Tom Schweich list, was uncomfortable with using it. It was professionally compiled.

Michael Hafner – contact and donor history on campaign donor list was quite extensive.

Michael Hafner – I don’t believe Mr. Schweich cared for Eric Greitens. Believes that the Schweich campaign donor list was taken from TS without permission.

Michael Hafner – As far as I’m aware, foreign donor campaign contributions are illegal. [Chair states that they are illegal.]

Michael Hafner – I would never advise accepting foreign campaign donations. You don’t want foreign entities influencing your election process.

Michael Hafner – Question: proprtion/outstate contributions? “It’d be hard for me to give a percentage.” In 2016 there was an incredible amount of national money.

Michael Hafner – Greitens raised “an abnormal amount” of money from out of state.

Michael Hafner – Can’t identify donors who gave through PACs. We don’t know who gave to Seals for Truth or LG PACs.

Michael Hafner – At the time in Missouri anyone could give any amount. Setting up a PAC only served to hide the identity of the donor.

Michael Hafner – Alex Rogers – “There were commitments from Alex early in the campaign to give a lot of money and raise alot of money.”

Michael Hafner – Didn’t know who the entity in campaign was to invoice at start of campaign. [….] I wouldn’t have invoiced the committee because there wasn’t a campaign committee at the time.

Michael Hafner – First check to MH was paid by check from Greitens Group.

Michael Hafner – Other consultants told EG if John Brunner ran for governor that they would be with Brunner. MH was told by EG campaign was taking a “stategic pause” in their relationship with him

Michael Hafner – On relationship with EG – “I’m not invited to BBQs.” “I’m here because of the subpeonas and because I want the truth to come out.”.

MH – There’s some pretty wicked stuff being thrown around on social media. They’ll try to frame this as I’m a disgruntled employee. I’m here to defend my testimony, not let others define it for me.

Michael Hafner – Discussion of 501c(3) [charities can’t make campaign contributions] – may be typo. Greitens wrote the e-mail. May have been referring to 501c(4).

Or not.

Michael Hafner – December 2014 was the first time formally (in writing) that MH advised EG campaign should form a committee. Before that informally.

Michael Hafner – Knew it was “The Mission Continues” list, but had no idea it was acquired illegally. “You don’t expect someone with a degree in ethics to acquire a list by other than lawful means.”

That sums it all up right there.

Michael Hafner – EG asked MH to go over “Mission Continues” list to discuss donors with individual at charity. It was clear coordination between charity and campaign. Believed it was unethical.

Michael Hafner – Rep. Trent pressed why MH didn’t discuss his concerns with campaign or Greitens.

I’ll bet $20.00 that Rep. Trent is a “no” vote in committee on articles impeachment. Just guessing, really.

Michael Hafner – Discussion. 501c(3) donor list can’t be exclusively made available to one candidate. Theoretically they could make their list available to everybody.

Michael Hafner – “He [EG] was elected as a Republican. He’s a Republican.”

Michael Hafner – Monu [Joseph] had donors who didn’t want to disclose.

Missouri House Special Investigative Committee on Oversight – hearing live stream
Committee adjourns for the day.

Something is going to happen.

Previously:

Missouri House Special Investigative Committee on Oversight – transcript of witness deposition – cross examination (May 23, 2018)

Missouri House Special Investigative Committee on Oversight – transcript of witness deposition – on Koster and Greitens (May 22, 2018)

HR 2: Special Investigative Committee on Oversight – the process for impeachment (May 22, 2018)

Missouri House Special Investigative Committee on Oversight – Scott Faughn (May 23, 2018)

Missouri House Special Investigative Committee on Oversight – not going to allow “cherry picking” (May 25, 2018)

Missouri House Special Investigative Committee on Oversight – Michael Hafner (May 29, 2018)

Missouri House Special Investigative Committee on Oversight – Michael Hafner

29 Tuesday May 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance, Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Governor, Missouri House, Missouri Senate

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

campaign finance, Eric Greitens., governor, hearing, impeachment, investigation, Michael Hafner, missouri, Missouri House Special Investigative Committee on Oversight

Marshall Griffin @MarshallGReport
I’m summarizing this – not quoting – but @HafnerMO basically told the Mo. House Cmte that @EricGreitens, formerly a Democrat, had to be taught how to speak Republican. #moleg #greitensreport #greitensindictment
11:21 AM – 29 May 2018

Tony Messenger @tonymess
If Cole County prosecuting attorney Mark Richardson were listening to #GreitensImpeachment hearings today he would be hearing a lot of testimony about potential ethics violations surrounding formation of @EricGreitens campaign.
11:42 AM – 29 May 2018

My running comments on the testimony, via Twitter:

Missouri House Special Investigative Committee on Oversight – hearing live stream
The hearing has not started yet. Announcement: the Chair is meeting with the Speaker.

Michael Hafner – testifying before the committee
Chair asked if he stands by his previous testimony before the committee. “Yes.”

Michael Hafner – meeting in 2014, discussing Greitens running for statewide office. “We knew that he was planning on running for office in 2016.” “It seemed that his mind was made up on running.”

Michael Hafner – set up meeting of major donors in 2014. Greitens attended that meeting – @ March13, 2014.

Michael Hafner – meeting with another group of donors in March 2014. MH attended. Introductory for Greitens to influential donors.

Michael Hafner – e-mail looking for researcher for “inoculation file” on Greitens. To check for vulnerabilities.

Michael Hafner – meeting – researcher, demographer, media buyer, national pollster, others – presentations for EG “and his wife” – discussion of groundwork for campaign. Meeting at hotel of donor.

Michael Hafner – “I don’t know if they ‘comped’ the room.”

Michael Hafner – Agenda – to follow up to vendor meeting. EG was very interested in advancing the campaign.

Michael Hafner – statement that they helped EG draft as he was stepping down from the charity. Address story to Missouri Scout – maybe about EG having Democrat ties.

Michael Hafner – advice at the time to “have a very short statement” to address Missouri Scout post. Ended up being longer.

Michael Hafner – Being solicited by national Democrats to run – “I think that’s what Eric wanted people to believe.” Other way around – EG solicited national Democrats to get him to run.

Michael Hafner – January 2015 started getting paid – Greitens Group paid him – for political work.

Michael Hafner – A lot of discussion in Fall 2014 – MH and David Barklage suggested he start a committee numerous times for fundraising purposes. Asked MEC – EG was doing political.

Michael Hafner – MEC suggested EG open candidate committee. Greitens disregarded that.

Michael Hafner – Greitens wanted to use March 2015 book release as a launch for his campaign. “We advised him to open a committee [before that].” Greitens wanted to wait until after his book tour.

Michael Hafner – January 15, 2016. Two weeks before that MH started working for campaign. “Was your rate of pay more than $500 for those two weeks?” “Yes.”

Michael Hafner – Document to Laub and Bobeck – “to do” things – follow through – there were campaign contributions. “Had EG been soliciting campaign contribution before that?” “Yes.”

Michael Hafner – Exhibit 88 – E-mail. radio plan provided to EG in 2014 by other consultants. Plan to air ads on conservative radio for EG.

Michael Hafner – “It was my understanding that radio plan was to be coordinated to launch of book.”

Michael Hafner – EG certainly had the Democrat ties (citing Bob Holden). EG had to be educated as to “conservative” policies.

Michael Hafner – Question: “Didn’t the Greitens camp describe you as a disgruntled employee.” “Yes.”

Michael Hafner – “I am here because the governor and his team were untruthful to the MEC about the donor list.”

Michael Hafner – “[Even in] there was a hesitancy in 2015 to conduct inoculation research.”

Michael Hafner – December 12, 2014 e-mail – about conversation with MEC about EG having a continuing or candidate committee.

Michael Hafner – “It was our advice that EG open a committee if he was spending money on campaign activities.”

Michael Hafner – Question: “It is typical that you’re spending this amount of time on a candidate who’s not going to run.” “Not typical.”

Michael Hafner – Question: “You personally advised him to open a committee [in 2014].” “Yes, personally and in writing.”

Michael Hafner – If EG had told us at the time that he was running for governor we wouldn’t have spent the time because we didn’t think he should run for governor.

Missouri House Special Investigative Committee on Oversight – hearing live stream
Michael Hafner – Question: “What’s the purpose of a 501c(3)?” “To conceal the identity of donors.”

Well, he’s established his honesty.

Michael Hafner – “Foreign money was discussed and that money being contributed by foreign entities. [MH left campaign] I don’t know how far those discussions went. [after that].”