Sen. Mitch McConnell's fundraising committee refunds donations WASHINGTON, July 15 (UPI) -- U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's joint fundraising committee has taken the unusual step of refunding almost $100,000 in contributions. Among the 16 contributors to have a total of $99,600 in donations to the McConnell Victory Kentucky committee returned were the Republican senator from Kentucky and his wife Elaine Chao, who each received $12,500, Washington publication Roll Call reported. Roll Call said such refunds usually mean the donor had reached the legal limit, though it was unclear why it was done in this case. The committee reported it raised $571,465 and spent $577,371, leaving $22,250 in cash on hand as of June 30, Roll Call said. The committee split $426,233 in proceeds between the Republican Party of Kentucky, the McConnell Senate Committee '14 (Primary) and the McConnell Senate Committee '14 (General).