Top Points:
Trump Campaign Files FEC Complaint Against Harris: The Trump campaign has lodged a complaint with the Federal Election Commission accusing Vice President Kamala Harris of illegal access to over $95 million from President Joe Biden's campaign funds, alleging this could be the largest campaign finance violation in U.S. history.
Legal and Financial Implications: The complaint, filed by David Warrington, claims Harris’s actions violate campaign finance laws, as she is attempting to access funds from the Biden for President committee, now renamed Harris for President, significantly exceeding the $2,000 contribution limit by over 45,000 times.
FEC and Legal Reactions: The FEC, represented by Chair Sean Cooksey, is expected to address the legality of Harris’s use of Biden’s campaign funds. While Harris's campaign calls the allegations baseless, the resolution process by the FEC could take several months, potentially involving substantial penalties and a DOJ referral.
Full Report:
The Trump campaign has filed a formal complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) accusing Vice President Kamala Harris of violating federal law to access over $95 million from President Joe Biden’s campaign funds. This complaint, filed on July 23 by David Warrington, general counsel for Donald J. Trump for President 2024 Inc., claims that Harris’s actions could constitute the largest campaign finance violation in U.S. history.
Following President Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race on July 21, he endorsed Vice President Harris as his replacement on the Democratic ticket. Subsequently, three FEC-registered committees shifted their candidate from Biden to Harris. While two of these committees, now known as the Harris Victory Fund and the Harris Action Fund, can distribute money freely under FEC regulations, the principal Biden for President committee—now Harris for President—might be restricted by campaign finance laws from allowing Harris to access its funds.
At the end of June, the Biden for President campaign committee reported having approximately $95.9 million in cash. The Trump campaign's complaint argues that Harris’s use of these funds would be an excessive contribution far exceeding legal limits. The FEC’s spokeswoman, Judith Ingram, could not confirm receipt of the complaint, citing confidentiality rules until the matter is resolved.
In the complaint, Warrington insists that Harris for President should face penalties for taking an excessive contribution and for filing fraudulent forms. He argues that altering the campaign’s documentation to reflect Harris as the candidate is illegal. Contributions from federal candidate committees to other federal candidates are limited to $2,000, making Harris’s access to Biden’s campaign funds a violation by over 45,000 times the legal limit.
Warrington calls on the FEC to investigate and halt this unprecedented transfer of funds, impose a suitable civil penalty, and refer the matter to the Department of Justice for prosecution. Representatives from Harris for President have labeled the complaint as “baseless legal claims” and reported raising $126 million since July 21.
FEC Chair Sean Cooksey, in a recent interview, indicated that the commission will likely need to address Harris’s use of Biden’s campaign funds. This discussion follows a call for clarification by Rep. Joseph Morelle (D-N.Y.) and statements from campaign finance experts supporting Harris’s right to use the funds.
The timeline for resolving this complaint is uncertain, as the FEC’s process for handling such matters can take several months.
Original Story by Austin Alonzo and Janice Hisle, The Epoch Times
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