Donald Trump has been accused of breaking federal law by fundraising and spending large sums of money on a presidential run he's yet to formally declare.
The finances of the former POTUS have been consistently contentious: his claims that he was sitting on a $500 million fortune were recently found to be 'fraudulent' and it appeared he didn't donate his salary for the last six months of his only term.
According to the American Bridge Super Pac, a Democratic fundraising organisation, Trump has now violated campaign finance laws by spending political funds on a 2024 presidential bid before he's even declared his candidacy.
In a complaint filed with the Federal Election Commission yesterday, March 14, the group alleged: 'Trump has been illegally using his multi-candidate leadership PAC to raise and spend funds in excess of commission limits for the purpose of advancing a 2024 presidential campaign,' as per The Guardian.
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'His failure to timely file a Statement of Candidacy with the Commission is a clear violation of the [Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971],' it adds.
Under current federal campaign finance laws, candidates who receive contributions or spend in excess of $5,000 on a presidential campaign are required to register their candidacy with the FEC within 15 days of the donations and/or expenditure.
Speaking in Orlando in February, Trump seemed to all-but-confirm a 2024 run at the White House, telling supporters at the Conservative Political Action Conference: 'We did it twice and we will do it again... we are going to be doing it again a third time.'
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Late last year, Trump also said when asked about another run, 'I know what I'm going to do, but we're not supposed to be talking about it yet from the standpoint of campaign finance laws.'
However, this also comes as Trump's primary political action committee has spent more than $100,000 each week on Facebook ads, and has reportedly 'consistently raised more than $1 million per week', the complaint alleges.
'Save America’s ads are clearly an attempt to influence Mr Trump’s election to federal office in 2024,' it reads.
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These expenditures, which include Trump's travels, events, rallies and payments to former campaign staff, must be disclosed to the FEC to 'further [his] candidacy, enjoin Mr. Trump from further violations, and fine Mr. Trump the maximum amount permitted by law,' the complaint notes.
In a statement to The Washington Post, Jessica Floyd, president of American Bridge, said: 'Whenever they are taking a break from calling for tax hikes for Americans and Obamacare repeal, Republicans are scrambling to see who can praise Trump the most – even as he continues his effort to grift his way back to the White House.'
Trump's team criticised this filing, with his spokesperson Taylor Budowich saying: 'America is spiralling into disaster because of the Democrats’ failures, and instead of reversing course, they are busy filing frivolous complaints that have zero merit.'
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Topics: Donald Trump, US News
