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Grasswire2

(13,684 posts)
Fri Jan 11, 2019, 03:16 AM Jan 2019

It is illegal to solicit campaign funds from the White House.


Think Al Gore. 1997. He made a few fundraising calls from the WH and was excoriated for it.

In his defense of his phone calls and insistence that they raised no legal issue, Mr. Gore referred today to a statute that makes it unlawful for ''any person to solicit or receive any contribution'' ''in any room or building occupied in the discharge of official duties,'' such as the offices in the White House.

The statute, Section 607 of Title 18 of the United States Code, has its roots in an 1876 law intended to discourage ''political assessments'': the collection from Government employees of part of their salary to support the incumbent party. The statute carries a maximum penalty of $5,000 and three years' imprisonment.

Unlike the Hatch Act, Section 607 makes no exceptions for any officials -- including the President or Vice President. And on its face, it is broadly worded, seeming to apply to any official who asks for a donation.


https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/04/us/gore-says-he-did-nothing-illegal-in-soliciting-from-white-house.html
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It is illegal to solicit campaign funds from the White House. (Original Post) Grasswire2 Jan 2019 OP
What about the Make AmericaGreat Again hats, which are so clearly part of fierywoman Jan 2019 #1
that might fall under the Hatch Act. (which does not apply to POTUS, VP, but to other employees) nt Grasswire2 Jan 2019 #6
Legal in non official parts of the White House Cicada Jan 2019 #2
Nah, that makes sense canetoad Jan 2019 #4
No no no, don't make me visualize it. Cicada Jan 2019 #5
As long as McConnell is around nothing will happen. n/t Hugin Jan 2019 #3
Lock him up! Hermit-The-Prog Jan 2019 #7

fierywoman

(8,072 posts)
1. What about the Make AmericaGreat Again hats, which are so clearly part of
Fri Jan 11, 2019, 03:44 AM
Jan 2019

the tRump campaign -- shouldn't they be banned from being worn by the guy in the White House? Or maybe he should be fined 3 years in jail for every time he's worn one of those hats?

Cicada

(4,533 posts)
2. Legal in non official parts of the White House
Fri Jan 11, 2019, 03:48 AM
Jan 2019

Legal in room A not legal in room B. What a stupid law. What real difference does it make which room you’re in?

canetoad

(18,033 posts)
4. Nah, that makes sense
Fri Jan 11, 2019, 05:29 AM
Jan 2019

If Trump wants to dance naked in the residence wearing nothing but a MAGA hat, he's quite entitled. It's his home.

Cicada

(4,533 posts)
5. No no no, don't make me visualize it.
Fri Jan 11, 2019, 10:44 AM
Jan 2019

Apparently someone hacked nudes of Bezos sent to his girlfriend. Again, no no no.

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