State: Bernie Sanders' endorsement broke no laws

Bernie Sanders broke no Vermont campaign finance laws when he emailed supporters to gather money for a progressive state senate candidate, Attorney General William Sorrell announced Tuesday.

Sanders, the U.S. senator and former Democratic presidential candidate, endorsed Vermont Senate candidate Christopher Pearson in May. Sanders asked his email followers across the United States to donate to Pearson and a slate of other candidates who represented "the spirit of our political revolution."

Pearson raised about $60,000 in a week, and the money propelled him to victory in a competitive Democratic primary. Pearson earned a second nomination from the Progressive Party.

Brady Toensing, an attorney and vice chairman of the Vermont Republican Party, argued that Sanders' email functioned as an in-kind campaign contribution in excess of state limits. Toensing asked Sorrell to investigate.

Read more: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/politics/2016/09/06/state-bernie-sanders-endorsement-broke-no-laws/89915428/