Today, Campaign Legal Center (CLC) filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) alleging that Donald Trump, his 2016 campaign committee, and the Donald J. Trump Foundation violated federal campaign finance law by soliciting and spending “soft money” funds in connection with his 2016 run for president. The complaint provides evidence and analysis in addition to the New York State Attorney General’s FEC referral on June 14.

Federal law prohibits candidates and their agents from soliciting and spending funds in connection with an election that don’t comply with federal contribution limits and reporting requirements. Yet Trump raised six- and-seven figure donations, some of them anonymous, and announced the fundraising haul at an Iowa campaign event just days before the Iowa nominating caucus, where the audience was told “it is imperative that you all get out and caucus for Donald J. Trump and vote for Donald J. Trump.” Trump and campaign officials then timed the distribution of funds to have the maximum impact on the Iowa election, handed out checks emblazoned with the Trump campaign slogan at official campaign events, and publicly mused about how the donations were helping Trump’s poll numbers.

“Trump and his campaign misused charitable resources to unlawfully influence his 2016 election,” said Brendan Fischer, director, federal reform at CLC. “Candidates can raise money for charity, they just can’t do it in connection with an election. The FEC should enforce the soft money ban.”

WASHINGTON – Today, President Trump nominated Brett Kavanaugh to be the next Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Judge Kavanaugh has authored several notable opinions that raise concerns about his views on democracy issues, particularly related to campaign finance law and executive privilege.

“Judge Kavanaugh’s view on election law ignores the current reality of our campaign finance system, which is awash in secret, unaccountable money. Kavanaugh’s skepticism of reasonable limits on money in politics threatens the ability of federal, state and local governments to maintain laws that regulate campaign contributions and spending and require disclosure of where all the money is coming from. He seems to equate money with speech, which is troubling for our campaign finance system. It is important that Senators press Kavanaugh on his views.” – Tara Malloy, senior director, appellate litigation and strategy, Campaign Legal Center (CLC).

Additionally, Kavanaugh appears to take an expansive view of presidential power as it relates to legal oversight over misconduct by the President or his associates. He wrote in a Minnesota Law Review article that Presidents should be free from “time-consuming and distracting” lawsuits and investigations, which “ill serve the public interest.” He went on to say that Congress should consider a law exempting the President – while in office – from criminal prosecution and investigation, including from questioning by criminal prosecutors or defense counsel. 

“Judge Kavanaugh’s views raise concerns about how he would analyze congressional efforts to insulate President Trump from cooperating with the Mueller probe. The President is not above the law, and Senators must ensure that Kavanaugh would not allow Trump to escape from his duty to cooperate with the ongoing criminal investigation into his 2016 presidential campaign.” Tara Malloy, senior director, appellate litigation and strategy, Campaign Legal Center (CLC).

WASHINGTON – Today, after months of mounting ethics scandals, Scott Pruitt resigned as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Walter Shaub, senior director, ethics, at Campaign Legal Center (CLC) released the following statement:

“We are dismayed that Pruitt held onto his job for so long and what that says about the low bar for government ethics in the current administration. The American people deserve public servants with higher standards for ethics, not those who misuse their positions to seek personal rewards for themselves and their families.”