Updated Nov 8, 2019 - Politics & Policy

Tom Steyer's aide resigns amid accusations of offering money for endorsements

Rashaan Ayesh

2020 Presidential candidate Tom Steyer — Tom Steyer. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images

Tom Steyer's Iowa political director, Pat Murphy, has resigned after allegedly offering campaign contributions to Iowa politicians if they agreed to endorse the billionaire candidate, ABC News reports. Murphy has denied the claims.

Why it matters: Undisclosed payments in exchange for endorsements would violate campaign finance laws. There is no record of any Iowans accepting funds from Steyer’s campaign in such a deal, and his press secretary has denied knowledge of the offer.

Flashback: One of Steyer's South Carolina aides resigned this week after an internal investigation into allegations that he stole volunteer data from the campaign of Democratic presidential rival Kamala Harris.

The backdrop: Since Steyer launched his long-shot campaign, he's been accused of trying to buy his way into the White House. He vowed to put $100 million of his own fortune toward his campaign.

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Editor's note: This story has been updated to clarify that Pat Murphy was the Steyer campaign's Iowa political director, rather than the political director at large.

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Tom Steyer's aide resigns amid accusations of offering money for endorsements

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