Open records requests have revealed questionable relationships that could violate the law surrounding political campaigns.
Recent open records requests have resulted in questions about the legal and ethical integrity of Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner’s political campaigns.
Emails obtained through the requests revealed questionable relationships between his campaigns, outside political action committees, and a nonprofit consulting operation. The relationships could be in violation of several laws.
Federal and state law in Pennsylvania prohibit direct coordination between politicians and political action committees. These laws prohibit coordination on strategy and expenditures, as well as prohibit messaging between candidates and the committees.
The documents reveal that the Wren Collective, a progressive consulting firm, advised on policy and shaped public messaging. In Philadelphia, documents show that the Wren Collective worked in coordination with another PAC, Real Justice, and Krasner’s official office, which may violate Pennsylvania campaign law.
The Wren Collective was paid as both a campaign vendor and a consultant to the District Attorney. Settlement agreements from the Philadelphia Board of Ethics in 2019 and 2021 confirm that Real Justice PAC exceeded legal contribution limits when it provided staff, funds, and direct campaign support to Krasner. The Wren Collective simultaneously served as a vendor for both the PAC and the committee.
Documents obtained through the open records requests also show that Real Justice PAC rented office space from Tiger Building LP. Krasner is a co-owner, which has also raised questions about the integrity of his campaigns and possible personal profit.
The documents show direct communications between Krasner, Wren Collective staff, and Real Justice PAC staff. Many of these communications occurred over private Gmail accounts, which blurs the distinction between campaign and government work. The law expressly prohibits direct coordination between candidates and PACs.
Settlements by the Ethics Board also detail how Real Justice PAC staff became embedded in Krasner’s campaign. They managed grassroots drives, purchased advertisements, and shared vendors with the Wren Collective.
The direct collaboration between Krasner and the PACs has raised questions about the integrity of his campaign while demonstrating the blurred line between campaign and government capacities.
