Obama in illegal gambling scandal
OK, maybe not a scandal then but quite funny how you can fall foul of the law. The national campaign for Barack Obama altered a fundraising opportunity on its Web site this week to avoid a violation of Minnesota's gambling laws.
The contest, which originally offered 10 supporters who donated $5 or more, and their guests, the chance to meet Mr. Obama at the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 28 in Denver, now does not require a donation after campaign officials were informed that the contest constituted illegal gambling.
The Minnesota Gambling Board was tipped off anonymously on Monday about the contest and the board turned the matter over to the Department of Public Safety, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. The Department of Public Safety gave Mr. Obama's campaign two options on Tuesday: invalidate the contest in Minnesota or make the donation optional. Covering all bases, the campaign chose the latter.
Minnesota authorities said they would not pursue the matter any further.
The contest, which originally offered 10 supporters who donated $5 or more, and their guests, the chance to meet Mr. Obama at the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 28 in Denver, now does not require a donation after campaign officials were informed that the contest constituted illegal gambling.
The Minnesota Gambling Board was tipped off anonymously on Monday about the contest and the board turned the matter over to the Department of Public Safety, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. The Department of Public Safety gave Mr. Obama's campaign two options on Tuesday: invalidate the contest in Minnesota or make the donation optional. Covering all bases, the campaign chose the latter.
Minnesota authorities said they would not pursue the matter any further.
posted by Peter Webb at
1:17 AM
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