Judd Legum1. @[email protected] is preparing to launch his presidential campaign and he's going to start by making a mockery of campaign finance laws.
Follow along for details about how this scheme works
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@[email protected] 2. Since announcing his candidacy in 2018, DeSantis has solicited funds for his eponymous state political committee, Friends of Ron DeSantis.
Friends of Ron DeSantis can accept contributions in unlimited amounts — from individuals and corporations.
https://popular.info/p/ron-desantis-is-about-to-make-a-mockery
Ron DeSantis is about to make a mockery of campaign finance law
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) is a prolific fundraiser. Since announcing his candidacy in 2018, DeSantis has solicited funds for his eponymous state political committee, Friends of Ron DeSantis. Friends of Ron DeSantis can accept contributions in unlimited amounts — from individuals and corporations. DeSantis has taken advantage of Florida's permissive rules. Even after spending tens of millions on his election and reelection, he has amassed a war chest of nearly $86 million.
@[email protected] 3. Even after spending tens of millions on his election and reelection, DeSantis has amassed a war chest of nearly $86 million.
Much of this money has come from very large contributions. In July 2022, Robert Bigelow, the owner of Budget Suites of America, donated $10 million.
@[email protected] 4. Overall, since 2018, there have been 404 contributions to Friends of Ron DeSantis for $100,000 or more, totaling more than $120 million.
Plus lots of direct corporate contributions, including 250K from @[email protected], 50K from @[email protected], and 50K from @[email protected]
@[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] 5. Now DeSantis is preparing to run for President. And that's a problem because DeSantis can't use the $86 million in this state committee.
Federal candidates cannot raise money directly from corporations, and they cannot accept individual contributions in excess of $6600.
@[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] 6. DeSantis wants to transfer the money to his Super PAC, which isn't subject to those limits.
The Super PAC, Never Back Down, is formally independent of DeSantis but run by some of this closest friends
But there's a catch
@[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] 7. Under federal law, if DeSantis FUNDS Never Back Down through an entity he controls, like Friends of Ron DeSantis, it would subject Never Back Down to federal campaign finance limits, which would defeat the entire point.
But DeSantis thinks he's found a loophole.
@[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] 8. Last Friday, DeSantis FORMALLY DISASSOCIATED with "Friends of Ron DeSantis." He filed a notice w/the state that he was “no longer associated with the political committee” and is no longer raising money for the committee directly or indirectly.
https://popular.info/p/ron-desantis-is-about-to-make-a-mockery
Ron DeSantis is about to make a mockery of campaign finance law
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) is a prolific fundraiser. Since announcing his candidacy in 2018, DeSantis has solicited funds for his eponymous state political committee, Friends of Ron DeSantis. Friends of Ron DeSantis can accept contributions in unlimited amounts — from individuals and corporations. DeSantis has taken advantage of Florida's permissive rules. Even after spending tens of millions on his election and reelection, he has amassed a war chest of nearly $86 million.
@[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] 9. On Tuesday, the Friends of Ron DeSantis website was updated to list Florida State Senator Blaise Ingoglia (R), one of DeSantis' closest political allies, as the "Associated Person."
@[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] 10. The idea that Ron DeSantis is no longer controlling or associated with "Friends of Ron DeSantis" is absurd. And the notion that the money held by Friends of Ron DeSantis will decide to transfer its funds to Never Back Down independent of DeSantis is not credible.
@[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] 11. Still, DeSantis will probably get away with it. Republicans have stacked the FEC with people who oppose enforcing campaign finance laws. The FEC is evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats. And the Republicans can block any enforcement action.
12. In recent years, Republicans at the FEC have steadfastly refused to enforce even the most obvious violations of the campaign finance laws.
DeSantis is poised to take advantage of a broken system.
https://popular.info/p/ron-desantis-is-about-to-make-a-mockery
Ron DeSantis is about to make a mockery of campaign finance law
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) is a prolific fundraiser. Since announcing his candidacy in 2018, DeSantis has solicited funds for his eponymous state political committee, Friends of Ron DeSantis. Friends of Ron DeSantis can accept contributions in unlimited amounts — from individuals and corporations. DeSantis has taken advantage of Florida's permissive rules. Even after spending tens of millions on his election and reelection, he has amassed a war chest of nearly $86 million.
13. If you value this kind of accountability journalism, please don't rely on an algorithm controlled by a mercurial right-wing billionaire to get it.
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