In a dramatic turn of events, former President Trump’s campaign has complained to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), alleging that President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have breached campaign finance laws.
The complaint centers around a $91 million transfer from Biden’s funds to Harris’s newly announced campaign.
The political landscape shifted significantly on Sunday when Biden exited the presidential race under increasing pressure following a lackluster debate performance.
In a show of unity, he endorsed Vice President Harris to carry the Democratic ticket forward and transferred his campaign’s significant war chest to her.
The Trump campaign, citing a report from The New York Times and corroborated by Fox News Digital, contends that Harris is attempting a “heist” of Biden’s leftover campaign funds, describing it as potentially the “largest campaign finance violation in American history.”
“Kamala Harris is in the process of committing the largest campaign finance violation in American history and she is using the Commission’s forms to do it,” the filing asserts. “The Commission must not and cannot sit idly by while one candidate takes nearly one hundred million dollars from the authorized committee of another, in violation of the Act and the will of the donors who gave the money in the first place.”
The detailed complaint names Biden, Harris, “Biden for President (aka Harris for President),” and Treasurer Keana Spencer. It accuses them of “flagrantly violating” campaign finance laws by orchestrating a massive transfer of funds and filing fraudulent documents to facilitate the move.
According to the complaint, Harris’s candidacy did not follow the proper legal procedures. It claims that federal law mandates a Statement of Candidacy for any candidate running in 2024, with the candidate’s name appearing on their authorized committee. Instead, Harris allegedly modified Biden’s campaign forms, effectively repurposing them for her use without following the correct legal channels. This action, the complaint argues, constitutes a violation of federal law, specifically 18 U.S.C. § 1519.3.
In response, the Harris campaign dismissed the allegations as “baseless,” emphasizing their ongoing efforts to mobilize support. “Team Harris will continue to build on our more than 250 coordinated offices and more than 1,300 coordinated staffers across the battleground states – just like we built on the $240 million cash on hand that we had at launch this week, raising $100 million in our first 36 hours and signing up 58,000 volunteers,” the campaign stated.
They further criticized the complaint as a distraction tactic by Republicans, aimed at undermining the energized Democratic campaign. Harris’s team has already made a record-breaking $100 million fundraising haul since Biden’s exit, showcasing a strong start to her campaign.
Addressing Biden’s campaign staffers, Harris assured them of her need for their continued support, as the election looms just over 100 days away on November 5. The rapid developments and significant financial movements mark a pivotal moment in the 2024 election cycle, setting the stage for a contentious and closely watched race.