Overview

• The payments stem from a handshake deal described by four people with knowledge and corroborated by federal disclosures.
• The agreement was struck after the race was called earlier than campaign aides anticipated, curtailing expected post‑election fundraising.
• Nearly 100 fundraising emails sent this year on the party’s behalf did not disclose that donations were effectively earmarked for leftover campaign costs.
• The arrangement predates current DNC chair Ken Martin’s February election but has continued during his tenure.
• The $20.5 million covered represents less than 2 percent of the roughly $1.5 billion the campaign spent over 15 weeks.