Former Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) is sending unspent campaign funds to a nonprofit charity he set up after losing his congressional seat in the 2012 election.
According to a Federal Election Commission report filed on Monday, West's campaign committee made a $400,000 charitable contribution to the Allen West Foundation on March 27. This follows a $250,000 contribution to the foundation made at the end of 2012.
The Allen West Foundation states that its mission is "to educate and inspire the next generation of conservative leaders among the minority and veteran communities."
Soon after his election loss to Democratic candidate Patrick Murphy, West launched the foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and American Legacy Guardians, a 501(c)(4) social welfare nonprofit, to advance his political views. His former campaign also transferred $250,000 to American Legacy Guardians at the end of 2012.
West, who is known for outrageous comments and far-right-wing politics, raised more money than any other House candidate in the 2012 election cycle, pulling in more than $18 million. His campaign wasn't able to spend all of that money and was left with $1.5 million cash on hand at the end of November.
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