A Democrat super PAC has accused Trump of violating campaign finance law.
What Happened: American Bridge, a Democrat super PAC, filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) on Monday accusing Donald Trump of violating campaign finance law by spending political funds on a 2024 presidential bid without formally declaring himself a candidate.
Background: Trump has repeatedly hinted that he plans to launch a third presidential campaign in 2024.
In July 2021, Trump told Fox News’s Sean Hannity, “Let me put it this way: I think you’ll be happy, and I think that a lot of our friends will be very happy. But I’m not actually allowed to answer it,” Mr. Trump said then. “It makes it very difficult if I do.”
Last month, at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) Trump dropped his strongest hint yet that he would run for president again and also won the CPAC straw poll. [Read Next: Trump Remains King of the GOP As He Drops Major 2024 Hint]
Details: Federal rules require those who raise or spend more than $5,000 in support of a presidential campaign to file with the FEC.
Once a politician has decided to run for federal office and begun fund-raising, the person is supposed to file paperwork declaring the candidacy. There is also an interim step for those who are “testing the waters” of a run. (per The New York Times)
What American Bridge Says: Jessica Floyd, the super PAC’s president, said Trump has done enough to be considered an official candidate.
Floyd said, “He should have to adhere to the law in a way that all other candidates do. When he says ‘I’m going to do it a third time,’ that’s not flirting. That’s more than a toe dip.”
What Trump Says: Trump’s spokesperson called the complaint frivolous.
“America is spiraling into disaster because of the Democrats’ failures, and instead of reversing course, they are busy filing frivolous complaints that have zero merit,” Taylor Budowich said.
What Comes Next: Nothing legally bars Trump from officially declaring himself as a ’24 candidate, however, he would be forced to adhere to stricter fund-raising limits and disclosure requirements if he did so.
