By Guy Page
Ericka Redic, Libertarian candidate for Congress, today challenged Republican nominee Liam Madden to “immediately withdraw” from the race following his disclosure of controversial campaign contributions.
In six days, Vermonters will choose Democrat Becca Balint, Madden, or Redic as their next Congressional representative. Balint is considered the favorite.
Madden told a radio audience last Thursday that to meet the $25,000 campaign contribution threshold for participating in a televised statewide debate, his campaign accepted funds from his wife’s business and from his two-year-old son. Federal Election Commission guidelines prohibit all contributions from corporations and involuntary contributions from minors. Madden says his wife’s business is a sole proprietorship, not a corporation, and called the guideline on minor contributions “incredibly subjective.”
A statement issued today by Ben Redic, communications manager and husband of Ericka Redic, said Madden “broke some serious rules and it begs the question whether he should remain in the race.”
“Once again, Ericka Redic’s opponent listed as a ‘Republican’ has demonstrated why Vermont cannot send him to Washington,” Ben Redic said. “He IS what is wrong with our system. Liam Madden blatantly disregarded federal law to give himself an advantage.”
This isn’t Redic’s first quarrel with Madden’s candidacy. Madden, an avowed political independent, promised to run as an independent even if he received the Republican nomination on August 9 – which he did, defeating both Redic and Anya Tynio. After the primary he changed his mind. He said he had mistakenly thought winning the nomination would prevent the party from naming another candidate, should he renounce the nomination.
Redic challenged his political integrity then, and did so again today.
“[Ericka] Redic told reporters that the first professional she hired for her campaign was a treasurer, after being advised that doing things incorrectly could mean fines or even arrest,” Ben Redic said. “She cited this situation as a great example of why her goal is to restore accountability, transparency, and Integrity to Washington.
“He broke some serious rules and it begs the question whether he should remain in the race. He seems completely confused by the rules. First, saying he wasn’t a Republican, and would run as an independent if he won the nomination, then flip-flopping after realizing he had to file paperwork to run as an independent. Now he stated that he believes there was no problem padding his campaign finance reports so he would be included in the debates. That is a very serious violation, as reported in the VTDigger on October 28, 2022, with very serious consequences. Liam Madden should immediately withdraw from the race for Congress.”
Madden’s FEC violation gave him an unfair advantage that led to his being invited to participate in debates, causing Ericka Redic to be excluded – even though she was “the only real Republican in the race” and had received three times the financial support of Vermonters than Madden, Ben Redic said.
Vermont Daily Chronicle emailed Madden for comment. He responded: “My response is: LOL.”
The Tuesday, October 18 WCAX debate featured only Balint and Madden. Video of the Sept. 15 VTDigger debate that includes both Redic and Madden, and other information, is available at www.erickaredic.com.