As former President Donald Trump continues to tease a future White House bid, a pro-Democrat super PAC has accused him of violating federal campaign laws by raising and spending money for a bid without officially presenting his candidacy.
In his complaint filed Monday with the Federal Election Commission, American Bridge accused Trump of “illegally using his multi-candidate leadership PAC to raise and spend funds above Commission limits in order to advance a 2024 presidential campaign.” The super PAC says that includes “payments for events at Trump properties, rallies with Trump, consulting payments to former Trump campaign staffers, and digital advertising about events by Trump and his presumed 2024 opponent.”
Alleging that Trump has already privately decided to mount a 2024 campaign, American Bridge says he was then required to file a declaration of intent to run within 15 days of receiving contributions or spending more than $5,000.
“Trump has toyed with the Federal Election Campaign Act for months,” the group said Monday, noting that the former president, through his Save America PAC, has spent more than $100,000 a week on Facebook ads “and has consistently raising more than 1 million per week, a clear violation of campaign finance law and a precedent set by the Federal Election Commission.
American Bridge he wants the FEC to force disclosure of Trump’s spending and fine him “the maximum amount allowed by law.”
Taylor Budowich, a spokesman for Trump, said the complaint from American Bridge had no merit and accused Democrats of resorting to “cheap tricks.”
“Our country is hurtling toward disaster because of the failures of the Democrats, and instead of reversing course to provide needed relief to American families, they are busy filing frivolous complaints that have no merit,” he said.
It is unclear how the commission would proceed with the case, which adds to a backlog. Sometimes criticized as ineffective and too slow in their decisions, the six commissioners, three Democrats and three Republicans, often get bogged down along party lines, resulting in frequent firings.
Trump has alluded to his plans in almost every appearance and interview, telling conservative hosts and sympathetic audiences that he’s waiting to make an announcement until after the midterms because it would trigger campaign finance laws.
“We may have to run again,” Trump said in South Carolina on Saturday, campaigning for two Republican candidates challenging House members he said had been disloyal to him in the primaries.
“In 2024, we are going to take back that beautiful, beautiful White House. I wonder who will do that. I wonder. I wonder.”
[Con información de The Associated Press]
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