Rochester, N.Y. - A glance at the most recent campaign finance reports reveals that a woman at the center of the ongoing Robutrad investigation received monthly payments from the same party that reportedly cut ties with her last year.
Irene Matichyn is the former treasurer of the Monroe County Republican Party. She most recently worked as consultant under the business title “I.M. Consulting.” In this role, as I understand it, Matichyn rounded up donations of the party, sometimes in the form of a “pledge” to donate, and then she collected a commission once that donation was received by the party.
Monroe County GOP Chairman Bill Reilich explained that these commissions are paid after the donor’s check actually arrives and that’s what happened.
Why am I even asking? Because Matichyn was named numerous times in a 31-page federal criminal complaint accusing a former Robutrad worker (Robert Morone) of mail fraud among other criminal charges.
At that time Reilich said Matichyn had been relieved of her duties at GOP Headquarters and the party’s working relationship with her was over until the state and federal investigations were complete. That was in June.
Still wondering why I’m asking this? Because the campaign finance report (attached) shows Matichyn receiving the following payments since that working relationship was reportedly severed.
July 22 $1,445.00
August 6 $842.00
September 15 $1,610.00
October 29 $5,390.00
November 12 $1,820.00
That’s $11,107 in five monthly payments from July to November and more than half of that total was paid out to Matichyn’s “I.M. Consulting” firm within 7 days of Election Day.
Reilich firmly stated to me that “she has not earned any new dollars” and these are only payments she’s entitled to based on pledged donations she secured prior to her being let go by the GOP Party.
“I’m paying her what she has earned to this point,” Reilich explained. He insisted that while more commission payments could appear in future campaign finance filings, the GOP’s working relationship with Matichyn is over with.
Asked if there was ever any effort to end or “buyout” her consulting contract to avoid this showing up on a campaign finance report, Reilich said no, adding that any salesperson is entitled to the commission they earned and that explains this situation.
To be very clear, Irene Matichyn has not been charged with or accused of any crime connected to this Robutrad investigation.
