W Spann LLC
Encyclopedia
W Spann LLC was a phantom company created at the behest of an originally unknown person by Boston lawyer Cameron Casey on March 15, 2011, apparently for the sole purpose of anonymously
donating one million dollars to Restore Our Future
, a Super PAC supporting U.S. Presidential candidate Mitt Romney
. After donating the money on April 28, the company was dissolved on July 12.
Its given address in Midtown Manhattan
at 590 Madison Avenue
, a 41-story tower, had no record of its tenancy. The address is shared by Bain Capital
, of which Romney was once Chief Executive Officer
, among other companies. Alex Stanton, a spokesman for Bain Capital, denied any affiliation between the two companies.
Romney’s campaign
did not comment on the donation. Tim Larimer, a spokesperson for Ropes & Gray, the law firm which employs Casey and represents Bain Capital
, said the firm couldn't discuss the matter. After NBC discovered the phantom company in August 2011, Democracy 21
and Campaign Legal Center
, two groups that promote greater transparency in election law
s, asked the U.S. Justice Department to investigate whether campaign disclosure laws were broken. Charles Spies, the treasurer of Restore Our Future, said that the pro-Romney committee had "fully complied with all FEC
regulations, including publicly disclosing donors on our July 31 report."
Ed Conard came forward as the person behind the company on August 5. Conard was a top official at Bain Capital before retiring in 2007, but still maintained an office at its Manhattan street address. It was unclear why he tried to donate via an anonymous route, as he had publicly donated to Romney's campaigns and PACs in the past, and in a 2007 media appearance he was described as a major supporter. Restore Our Future spokesperson Brittany Gross stated: "We're glad Mr. Conard has chosen to come forward putting an end to this supposed controversy. Restore our Future will amend our report per Mr. Conard's request to reflect him as the donor."
However, Democracy 21 and the Campaign Legal Center still wanted an investigation due to lingering questions.
Anonymity
Anonymity is derived from the Greek word ἀνωνυμία, anonymia, meaning "without a name" or "namelessness". In colloquial use, anonymity typically refers to the state of an individual's personal identity, or personally identifiable information, being publicly unknown.There are many reasons why a...
donating one million dollars to Restore Our Future
Restore Our Future
Restore Our Future is a political action committee created to support Mitt Romney in the 2012 U.S. Presidential election. A so-called Super PAC, Restore Our Future is permitted to raise and spend unlimited amounts of corporate, union, and individual campaign contributions under the terms of the...
, a Super PAC supporting U.S. Presidential candidate Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney
Willard Mitt Romney is an American businessman and politician. He was the 70th Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican Party presidential nomination.The son of George W...
. After donating the money on April 28, the company was dissolved on July 12.
Its given address in Midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan, or simply Midtown, is an area of Manhattan, New York City home to world-famous commercial zones such as Rockefeller Center, Broadway, and Times Square...
at 590 Madison Avenue
590 Madison Avenue
Formerly the IBM Building, 590 Madison Avenue is a tall skyscraper at the corner of 57th street in New York City, New York. It was completed in 1983 and has 41 floors. The building cost US$10 million, has of floor area, has 24 elevators, and is the 89th tallest building in New York. Edward...
, a 41-story tower, had no record of its tenancy. The address is shared by Bain Capital
Bain Capital
Bain Capital LLC is a Boston-based private equity firm founded in 1984 by partners from the consulting firm Bain & Company. Originally conceived as an early-stage, growth-oriented investment fund, Bain Capital today manages approximately $65 billion in assets, and its strategies include private...
, of which Romney was once Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
, among other companies. Alex Stanton, a spokesman for Bain Capital, denied any affiliation between the two companies.
Romney’s campaign
Mitt Romney presidential campaign, 2012
The Mitt Romney 2012 presidential campaign began informally shortly after the 2008 presidential election. Having campaigned for the Republican nomination in 2008, the former Governor of Massachusetts was frequently mentioned as a possible candidate for the 2012 Republican Party nomination for U.S....
did not comment on the donation. Tim Larimer, a spokesperson for Ropes & Gray, the law firm which employs Casey and represents Bain Capital
Bain Capital
Bain Capital LLC is a Boston-based private equity firm founded in 1984 by partners from the consulting firm Bain & Company. Originally conceived as an early-stage, growth-oriented investment fund, Bain Capital today manages approximately $65 billion in assets, and its strategies include private...
, said the firm couldn't discuss the matter. After NBC discovered the phantom company in August 2011, Democracy 21
Democracy 21
Democracy 21 is a non-profit organization in the United States that works to remove the influence of private money from politics . It was founded in 1997 by longtime activist Fred Wertheimer, and is based in Washington, DC...
and Campaign Legal Center
Campaign Legal Center
Campaign Legal Center is a nonpartisan group that promotes greater transparency in election laws...
, two groups that promote greater transparency in election law
Election law
Election law is a discipline falling at the juncture of constitutional law and political science. It researches "the politics of law and the law of politics"...
s, asked the U.S. Justice Department to investigate whether campaign disclosure laws were broken. Charles Spies, the treasurer of Restore Our Future, said that the pro-Romney committee had "fully complied with all FEC
Federal Election Commission
The Federal Election Commission is an independent regulatory agency that was founded in 1975 by the United States Congress to regulate the campaign finance legislation in the United States. It was created in a provision of the 1975 amendment to the Federal Election Campaign Act...
regulations, including publicly disclosing donors on our July 31 report."
Ed Conard came forward as the person behind the company on August 5. Conard was a top official at Bain Capital before retiring in 2007, but still maintained an office at its Manhattan street address. It was unclear why he tried to donate via an anonymous route, as he had publicly donated to Romney's campaigns and PACs in the past, and in a 2007 media appearance he was described as a major supporter. Restore Our Future spokesperson Brittany Gross stated: "We're glad Mr. Conard has chosen to come forward putting an end to this supposed controversy. Restore our Future will amend our report per Mr. Conard's request to reflect him as the donor."
However, Democracy 21 and the Campaign Legal Center still wanted an investigation due to lingering questions.