Trump Just Illegally Used Taxpayer Money To Hold A Campaign Event In Missouri

[Arkansas Granny]

Trump was supposed to be addressing the VFW in Missouri, but he invited Republican Senate Candidate Josh Hawley on stage and allowed him to speak in what was an illegal use of taxpayer money to pay for what turned into a campaign event.

Trump said, “Hopefully, your new senator to be Josh Hawley. We need Josh badly. Josh. Thank you. In fact, Josh, do me a favor, come up here just for a second. Just shake my hand. This guy is a special man. Come here, Josh, come here.”

<snip>

Presidents are supposed to reimburse for their travel on Air Force One for campaign events. It is illegal for presidents to use government resources, besides the Secret Service because they go with the president everywhere for campaign events.

The problem with what happened in Missouri is that the White House is claiming that Trump’s speech is a presidential event, not a campaign event, but as you can clearly see, Trump was campaigning with Hawley in Missouri.

https://www.politicususa.com/2018/07/24/trump-just-illegally-used-taxpayer-money-to-hold-a-campaign-event-in-missouri.html

Hmmm. I wonder if anything could be made of this.

[Wellstone ruled]

1. Oh yes,and there will be more until

the Media calls Trump out. It is all about the free bee's.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

2. Hopefully, Claire is on this

Trump may have just hurt Hawley's chances.

[FakeNoose]

3. Remember last year when he went to the Boy Scouts Jamboree and campaigned

... in front of 12 year old boys? Parents were pissed and the doo-doo hit the fan.

Cheeto probably won't try that again, but these veterans are all 70-year-old boy scouts.
Know what I mean?

[unblock]

4. if president hillary did this, she'd be impeached for the 63rd time.

in reality, enough of a stink should be made to force donnie to reimburse the government from his campaign funds.

in practice, donnie won't, and the press will barely notice and definitely not care.

[exboyfil]

5. The VFW is screwed as well

They just used their national convention as a campaign rally. Good luck explaining that one away you tax exempt non-profit.

[SamKnause]

6. Trump does not follow the law.

It is his trademark.

As a 'businessman' or as 'president' he has never followed the law.

[tblue37]

7. K&R for visibility. nt

[malaise]

8. Watched in shock

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100210918237

[onenote]

9. It's not illegal unless a portion of the costs aren't reimbursed.

The rules governing combined official/unofficial presidential travel are explained here: https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RS21835.pdf:

"The White House generally categorizes the trips as fulfilling either official or political functions. Often, a trip involves both official and political, or unofficial, activities. When a trip is for an official function, the government pays all costs, including per diem (food and
lodging), car rentals, and other incidental expenses. When a trip is for political or unofficial purposes, those involved must pay for their own food and lodging and other related expenses, and they must also reimburse the government with the equivalent of the airfare that they would have paid had they used a commercial airline. When a trip involves both official and political activities,
a formula determines the amount to be reimbursed for that part of the trip involving political activities. Whether a trip is for official or political purposes, the Air Force pays all operational and other costs incurred by the use of the aircraft."


"In the instance of a mixed trip, the amount of the reimbursement for use of government aircraft will be prorated as indicated by the nature of the activity. Prorating the cost of air travel on mixed official/political trips may be accomplished through a formula based on the amount of time actually spent by the President and Vice President in meetings, receptions, rallies and similar activity. Time spent in actual travel, private study, or rest and recreation will not be included in the computation. The formula is as follows: Time spent in official meetings, receptions, etc. + Time spent in political meetings, receptions, rallies = Total activity time. Time spent in official activity ÷ Total activity time = Percentage of trip that is official. Time spent in political activity ÷ Total activity time = Percentage of trip that is political. The percentage figure that represents the political portion of the trip is then multiplied by the amount that would be reimbursed to the government if all of the travel was political. The product of that calculation represents the amount to be reimbursed to the government."

[sandensea]

13. But you can bet your bottom dollar Trump isn't parting with a nickel for this.

This is a man who used the Trump Foundation (among many other things) to pay Short Bus' Boy Scout fee.

7 lousy dollars.

[onenote]

15. probably, but we won't know for some time

Reimbursements are due within a "reasonable time". While not specifically defined, it appears that 30-60 days is the standard. But there also is a time lag between the deadline for making reimbursements and the publication of the reports that would reflect such reimbursement if made.

[sandensea]

17. But given Cheeto's history of stiffing anyone & everyone, plus his famed miserliness (with others),

I'd say it's a safe bet.

[maxrandb]

10. Yes, our Congress will get right on holding him accountable

[HipChick]

11. Exactly....

we should stop paying taxes...

[Mr.Bill]

12. With Trump's track record of supporting candidates,

I can think of no better use of my tax dollars. Hell, the DNC should fund his campaigning for republicans.

[spanone]

14. He's a crook and getting away with it. Flouting the law...and no one says 'no'

congress should stay home

[erronis]

22. How would we know that they weren't there, functioning?

Other than a few photo/journo-ops they could just as well collect their US pay and russian/bribes at the side of their pools.

[spanone]

24. true...sad, but true.

[world wide wally]

16. As if Trump gives a fuck about using taxpayer money illegally.

Add it to his list of court dates.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

18. Sleaziest President ever.

[benld74]

19. Hawleys commercials in Misery are all lies

Younger tRump version

He hasn’t done crap in Misery

So now he feels that would make him
A good Senator

[maddiemom]

20. EVERY appearance Trump makes turns out to be a campaign event (mostly for HIM).

Just now noticing?

[Scurrilous]

21. K&R

[SunSeeker]

23. K & R for exposure of corruption. nt