Gloves Come Off — Matos Tries to Change Subject, Files FEC Complaint Against Regunberg

Gloves Come Off — Matos Tries to Change Subject, Files FEC Complaint Against Regunberg

Rhode Island Lt. Governor Sabina Matos’ campaign for the Democratic nomination for the first congressional seat is changing strategy after a brutal month of controversy.

This week, the Rhode Island Board of Elections said that it may issue subpoenas to Matos’ campaign team to investigate what transpired during the signature collection process for ballot placement.

The Board said it was deferring subpoenas until after the primary so as not to overlap with a Rhode Island State Police investigation.

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Then at a press availability on Tuesday, Matos' ally, New York City Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), repeatedly interrupted and was dismissive to GoLocal News Editor Kate Nagle while she was trying to ask Matos questions.

University of Virginia political science professor Jennifer Lawless called the Congressman’s behavior an example of the persistent sexism that continues today in American politics.

“The level of sexism coming in all different kinds of directions targeted at various people and by various people was really quite stunning. I've spent 20 years studying gender dynamics in Congressional elections and in the political arena and what I saw [Wednesday] sort of summed it all up and in a lot of ways highlighted how far we have not come,” said Lawless, who chairs the political science department at UVA. 

 

Matos Pivot

On Friday, the Matos campaign pivoted.

The Matos campaign filed a formal complaint with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) to investigate the activity of Progress Rhode Island, a Super PAC funded by candidate Aaron Regunberg’s father-in-law [im Cielinski] and mother, and Aaron Regunberg to investigate what is says is evidence of candidate Regunberg’s potential illegal coordination with said group.

A series of articles by GoLocal outlining the Super PAC activities looked into Regunberg’s father-in-law's financial firm and its investment in oil and gas stocks.

READ: Regunberg’s Father-in-Law and Biggest Supporter’s Firm Holds $230M in Fossil Fuel Investments

To date, Progress Rhode Island has made expenditures solely to the benefit of Aaron Regunberg.

“Aaron Regunberg is getting himself in incredibly hot water by falsely claiming his campaign never had a “red box” that signaled messaging and photos to his family’s Super PAC. It’s just not true - and voters deserve to know the truth,” said Brexton Isaacs, Matos campaign manager. “Regunberg’s deception stands in stark contrast to Lt. Governor Sabina Matos’ 12-year record and experience in public office delivering for the people of Rhode Island on critical issues like reproductive freedom and gun safety.”

According to Matos' complaint, it outlines how, following the establishment of Progress Rhode Island, candidate Regunberg’s campaign put up a “red box” that appears to have been intentionally very difficult to find and was only public for a short time before being taken off his website.

 

Regunberg Response

Matt DaSilva of Regunberg’s campaign said in a statement:

"This is a ridiculous and unserious attack from a desperate candidate whose campaign has been dogged by ethical questions and is currently under criminal investigation.  Our campaign website has had numerous pages up over the course of this campaign, sharing our message of taking on corporate power and fighting to build an economy that works for everyone.  The Lieutenant Governor has a clear redbox on her website, and has been communicating with the Super PACs supporting her, with Twitter messages literally spelling out target voter universes in clear violation of the spirit of noncoordination laws.”