BILLINGS — Newly-named Ambassador to China Max Baucus has unloaded almost $1.7 million from his campaign coffers since he announced he was leaving the U.S. Senate last year, including a recent major donation to a Democratic committee.
Campaign finance reports show Baucus on Jan. 31 gave $475,000 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee as it seeks to retain the party’s slim Senate majority in the November elections.
The donation came as Baucus’ nomination for ambassador was pending.
The former chairman of the Senate Finance Committee had amassed $4.9 million in campaign money before unexpectedly announcing last April that he would not seek a seventh term.
Campaign reports show he has since refunded at least $1.2 million. That includes $683,000 to dozens of political action committees and $520,000 to individual contributors.