Major corporate interests and megadonors gave $239 million to fund Trump’s inauguration
From CNBC:
New campaign finance reports reveal the total amount raised by President Trump’s inaugural committee: $239 million, more than double the $109 million he raised for his first inauguration. Many major individual donors received government appointments, including Republican megadonor Warren Stephens, who gave $4 million and was made ambassador to the UK, and Education Secretary Linda McMahon, who gave $1 million. Large corporations also made donations, including Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., a major poultry company that gave the largest total donation at $5 million.
Departure on FEC hobbles the election enforcement agency
From POLITICO:
A Republican commissioner of the FEC announced that he would be leaving the agency, leaving it without enough members to enforce campaign finance law. This comes after another Republican commissioner resigned in January, and President Trump fired a Democratic commissioner in February (the commissioner contends that her firing was illegal). The commission is left with three members, below the four-member threshold for a quorum. As a result, the FEC cannot rule on investigations, cite campaigns for violations, or issue guidance.
Trump Directs Justice Dept. to Investigate ActBlue, Democrats’ Cash Engine
From The New York Times:
President Trump has called for the Justice Department to investigate the fundraising platform ActBlue, which supports the vast majority of Democratic campaigns and committees. The investigation seeks to find evidence of donations being made under false names, also known as “straw donations,” as well as donations made by foreign nationals using the platform. Both straw donations and foreign donations to American campaigns and political committees are illegal. Democratic leaders have said the investigation is “designed to undermine democratic participation.” Many Democrats, as well as ActBlue itself, have begun fundraising off the news, sending out “emergency” requests for donations before the platform is potentially shut down.
Former Rep. George Santos sentenced to 87 months for federal fraud charges
From CNN:
George Santos, the former US Representative who was elected to New York’s 3rd Congressional District in 2022, before being expelled from Congress in December 2023, has been sentenced to 87 months in prison on federal charges. Santos made up most of the life story he used to run for Congress, and has faced numerous federal charges, including misuse of campaign funds and lying on House financial disclosures. Santos’ sentence comes from his conviction on aggravated identity theft and wire fraud charges.
