American Bridge, a pro-Democratic super PAC, has filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) alleging that former President Donald Trump is violating campaign finance laws by spending money from his PAC on events for himself while he hasn't yet officially stated whether he will be a presidential candidate in 2024.
Trump has both raised and spent "well over" $5,000 in funds related to "advancing his own presidential campaign," the complaint alleges. American Bridge states that federal campaign finance laws dictate that Trump would have been required to file paperwork declaring his candidacy within 15 days of raising or spending over $5,000 on things that could "influence his election."
Trump has commented about a potential 2024 run on several occasions, which the complaint from American Bridge details, and has been the main opponent that polls have placed opposite President Joe Biden to measure early public opinion on the next presidential election.
The complaint alleges that funds from Trump's Save America PAC have been both raised and spent for events and other expenses that would promote Trump's potential 2024 run, including "events at Trump properties, rallies featuring Mr. Trump, consulting payments to former Trump campaign staff, and digital advertising about Mr. Trump's events and his presumptive 2024 opponent."
Across several TV appearances and other public events, the complaint alleges, Trump has stated that he has made a decision about whether he would run in 2024 but couldn't publicly reveal it yet because it would make it "very difficult" and he wasn't "supposed to be talking about it yet from the standpoint of campaign finance laws."
The complaint alleges that his Save America PAC continuously raises over $1 million per week and spends over $100,000 per week on advertising for Trump on Facebook alone.
Trump reportedly introduced himself as the "45th and 47th" president of the United States at his golf course after he was announced as the 45th president, according to a video posted on Instagram in January that was reported by Insider.
Last month, Trump also spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference and mentioned "doing it again a third time," referring to campaigning, and referred to his wife Melania as the "future first lady," the complaint alleges.
It is currently unknown how the FEC, made up of three Democrat and three Republican commissioners, will proceed with the allegations considering that they have become increasingly likely to deadlock at 3-3 on prominent political issues, according to The Associated Press.
Newsweek has contacted both American Bridge and a representative for Trump for more information about the new complaint.
Update 3/14/22, 5:43 p.m. ET: This story has been updated with additional context and information.
