Robert Zimmerman, a former Democratic congressional candidate, has called for increased oversight and staffing at the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to improve the auditing and reviewing of campaign finance filings. This demand comes as George Santos, the Republican congressman who defeated Zimmerman in the 2022 election, faces legal issues related to campaign finance violations.

Zimmerman argues that the FEC’s current staffing levels are inadequate to handle the volume of campaign filings, which has led to candidates evading accountability by failing to file financial disclosures on time or at all. He emphasizes the need for stringent regulations and severe penalties for violations to ensure transparency and prevent future deceptions.

Santos is currently facing charges of wire fraud, theft of public funds, and lying to Congress. His former campaign treasurer, Nancy Marks, previously pleaded guilty to filing fraudulent reports, which Santos had initially blamed on her. Zimmerman believes that without meaningful changes in the laws governing campaign finance oversight, there will be no justice for the democratic process.

Zimmerman’s call for reform is part of a broader effort to hold candidates accountable and ensure that the public can make informed decisions based on complete and honest information. The integrity of the democratic process is seen as being at stake if these reforms are not implemented.