In August, Sinema's campaign spent four figures at Three Sticks Wines in California.
Sinema herself interned at the winery in 2020. The winery owner is a Sinema donor.
A winery spokesperson said the senator's campaign expense wasn't for a meeting at the winery.
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema's re-election campaign spent $1,180 on August 12 at Three Sticks Wines in Sonoma, California, according to a new financial report filed with the Federal Election Commission.
But a representative for the winery, where Sinema herself worked as a harvest intern in 2020, offered additional details.
"The senator purchased wine and a virtual tasting kit online, but she did not hold an event or meeting at the winery on August 12," spokesperson Sam Folsom told Insider.
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, a Democrat from Arizona, reported that her campaign spent $1,180 at a California winery for "meeting expenses." Federal Election Commission
It's unclear why Sinema's campaign would purchase wine or a "virtual tasting kit." A spokesperson for Sinema, a Democrat from Arizona, could not be reached for comment Friday.
Federal law generally prohibits congressional campaigns from buying items for their candidates' personal use outside the context of running for office.
But the law generally allows campaigns to purchase promotional items and gifts to give to supporters and donors. It also allows campaigns to purchase items for campaign gatherings — in-person events or pandemic-friendly virtual affairs.
Three Sticks Wines offers several "virtual tasting experiences," including a corporate package that includes "a multimedia sampling of our wines with an expert host, culminating in a tour of our 1842 Vallejo-Casteñada Adobe home." The winery promises to "coordinate the logistics, schedule the best day and time for your group, and the fun will commence."
Sinema's relationship with the Three Sticks Wines continues to grow.
The senator earned $1,117.40 while working as an intern there in August 2020, which Insider first revealed in May.
"Kyrsten was extremely hardworking and was a fantastic part of our team," winemaker Ryan Prichard told Insider at the time.
"Kyrsten worked harvest for Three Sticks Winery, and in accordance with California law, was paid an entry-level harvest rate," a Sinema representative, Hannah Hurley, told Insider in May. Hurley added that the Senate Ethics Committee preapproved Sinema's unconventional side job.
Sinema's internship coincided with a fundraising swing she made in August 2020 through California wine country. An August 2020 fundraising invitation from Sinema's leadership political action committee listed Three Sticks Wines as one of the stops on a "Weekend of Wine and Food" tour of California wineries.
Sinema's Getting Stuff Done PAC asked individuals and political-action-committee representatives for a $5,000 contribution to participate.
In her latest campaign finance report, Sinema disclosed that Three Sticks Wines owner Bill Price contributed $2,900 to her campaign on August 15, 2021.
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, a Democrat from Arizona, disclosed a $2,900 contribution from the owner of a winery where she interned in 2020. Federal Election Commission
Price is also the co-founder of the private equity firm TPG Capital.
As The Intercept reported in September, Sinema's opposition to various federal tax increases and adjustments have heartened the private equity industry — and vexed fellow Democrats, who want to use the revenue to help fund President Joe Biden's sweeping social program and infrastructure investment agenda.
Sinema's willingness to infuriate her fellow Democrats, along with her affinity for wine, have been comedy fodder of late, with "Saturday Night Live" and former Barack Obama speechwriter Jon Lovett among those offering send-ups.
Pocktio on October 21st, 2021 at 20:07 UTC »
It's wild to me that it's legal to gift to donors.
I work in finance in the UK and that'd be bribery and 100% illegal for me.
The_Lone_Apple on October 21st, 2021 at 19:25 UTC »
Good reporting. More of this. If she can't be moved to do right by her constituents, then she needs to be personally destroyed. Tough luck. Should've done the right thing.
thegreatblazed on October 21st, 2021 at 18:19 UTC »
Dave Levinthal and Robin Bravender
Oct 16, 2021, 2:58 AM
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema's re-election campaign spent $1,180 on August 12 at Three Sticks Wines in Sonoma, California, according to a new financial report filed with the Federal Election Commission.
The stated reason: "meeting expenses."
But a representative for the winery, where Sinema herself worked as a harvest intern in 2020, offered additional details.
"The senator purchased wine and a virtual tasting kit online, but she did not hold an event or meeting at the winery on August 12," spokesperson Sam Folsom told Insider.
It's unclear why Sinema's campaign would purchase wine or a "virtual tasting kit." A spokesperson for Sinema, a Democrat from Arizona, could not be reached for comment Friday.
Federal law generally prohibits congressional campaigns from buying items for their candidates' personal use outside the context of running for office.
But the law generally allows campaigns to purchase promotional items and gifts to give to supporters and donors. It also allows campaigns to purchase items for campaign gatherings — in-person events or pandemic-friendly virtual affairs.
Three Sticks Wines offers several "virtual tasting experiences," including a corporate package that includes "a multimedia sampling of our wines with an expert host, culminating in a tour of our 1842 Vallejo-Casteñada Adobe home." The winery promises to "coordinate the logistics, schedule the best day and time for your group, and the fun will commence." 'Fantastic part of our team'
Sinema's relationship with the Three Sticks Wines continues to grow.
The senator earned $1,117.40 while working as an intern there in August 2020, which Insider first revealed in May.
"Kyrsten was extremely hardworking and was a fantastic part of our team," winemaker Ryan Prichard told Insider at the time.
"Kyrsten worked harvest for Three Sticks Winery, and in accordance with California law, was paid an entry-level harvest rate," a Sinema representative, Hannah Hurley, told Insider in May. Hurley added that the Senate Ethics Committee preapproved Sinema's unconventional side job.
Sinema's internship coincided with a fundraising swing she made in August 2020 through California wine country. An August 2020 fundraising invitation from Sinema's leadership political action committee listed Three Sticks Wines as one of the stops on a "Weekend of Wine and Food" tour of California wineries.
Sinema's Getting Stuff Done PAC asked individuals and political-action-committee representatives for a $5,000 contribution to participate.
In her latest campaign finance report, Sinema disclosed that Three Sticks Wines owner Bill Price contributed $2,900 to her campaign on August 15, 2021.
Price is also the co-founder of the private equity firm TPG Capital.
As The Intercept reported in September, Sinema's opposition to various federal tax increases and adjustments have heartened the private equity industry — and vexed fellow Democrats, who want to use the revenue to help fund President Joe Biden's sweeping social program and infrastructure investment agenda.
Sinema's willingness to infuriate her fellow Democrats, along with her affinity for wine, have been comedy fodder of late, with "Saturday Night Live" and former Barack Obama speechwriter Jon Lovett among those offering send-ups.