Republican FEC chair suggests Harris may not get Biden war chest

[RandySF]

Sean Cooksey, the Trump-appointed chair of the Federal Election Commission (FEC), suggested Monday that Vice President Harris may not be able to access the millions of dollars remaining from President Biden’s campaign, which many campaign finance lawyers say is rightfully hers.

Biden shook up the 2024 presidential race Sunday when he dropped out amid concerns about his age and mental acuity and endorsed his vice president. The campaign had just under $96 million in cash on hand as of June 30, according to its most recent report to the FEC, and filed paperwork to change its name from “Biden for President” to “Harris for President” within hours of the president’s decision.

Even before the campaign filed to change its name, Harris was listed as a candidate alongside Biden on its paperwork with the FEC.

Campaign finance lawyers previously told The Hill that Harris would be able to access the funds if she becomes the nominee. Democrats have started to coalesce behind Harris, but Cooksey called the situation “complicated” and suggested it would be challenged in the agency and at the courts.

“I think it’s really complicated, is the short answer,” Cooksey told “Morning Edition” on NPR. “What he’s attempting to do is to give his entire committee, the cash and all the assets, over to another person. I think it’s gonna have to go through a process, through the FEC,” Cooksey added. “I expect, there’s probably going to be challenges to that at the agency, and probably in the courts as well.”




https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4785703-fec-chair-suggests-harris-cant-access-biden-funds/

[displacedvermoter]

1. A lot of really smart people said this wouldn't be a problem!

[calguy]

7. Yes, but republicans aren't really smart people

This guy is a republican, and they're desperate to try anything they can think of.

[viva la]

2. Of course, she was on the ticket already

But he can bluster and moan, and in three years probably the case will finally get into court, and there'll be a $30K fine, and President Harris will laugh.

[osteopath6]

34. The problem

Is they are seeking an injunction to prevent the campaign from using the funds until the issue has been litigated 😤

[Diraven]

39. Which will take until the election is over

Of course

[MontanaMama]

3. It's only "complicated" because

repukes are having a sad over Harris.

[Butterflylady]

33. Becoming desperate, awwwwweeeee.

Ain't gonna matter.

[RAB910]

4. Worth reading further

Democratic Commissioner Dara Lindenbaum, who chaired the commission last year, pushed back on the suggestion that Harris would not be able to access those funds.

“It’s quite clear, Vice President Harris can continue using the campaign committee and its funds,” Lindenbaum told The Hill.

Steve Roberts, former general counsel to Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, was also skeptical of Cooksey’s comments.

“This interpretation is likely wishful thinking,” Roberts told The Hill.

“Since the declarations of candidacy for 2024, the reasonable interpretation is that the Biden campaign committee is a shared one between Harris / Biden, and perhaps uniquely so because they are incumbents. Otherwise, in 2020, Trump-Pence wouldn’t have had a shared committee, but would have set up separate committees and had their own contribution limits,” he explained.

[kwolf68]

5. Anything they can do they will...

Of course, it's OK for oligarchs to push millions into Republican coffers.

[flying_wahini]

6. Someone pull this asshole aside and tell him we don't cheat like they do. It's not a personality cult.

[Mme. Defarge]

8. The problem is

the possible delay due to legal challenges.

[hlthe2b]

9. Bullshit. She was listed alongside Biden. No lawyer I've seen interviewed who has the background & experience

on the issue (and has looked into it) has given any credence to that MAGAT's claims.

[Ms. Toad]

10. Good thing she raised about 2/3 of that amount yesterday.

[onethatcares]

11. gee, one would think a repuke chairman of the FEC

would see no problem with this.

Joe should can his ass and do an acting appointment to avoid congressional stalling. You know, like the former guy did

[Freethinker65]

12. Let me guess. SCOTUS will delay dispersing the money until, say, after the actual election.

Complete bullshit. If Biden/Harris cannot give to Harris/"x", he should be able to return it to the donors who could then redonate the money to Harris pre-nomination. Avoid the step by having donors sign paperwork agreeing to the exchange (like in retail for exchanges; would you like one receipt or would you prefer to return the item and end that transaction, then repurchase the same item in another size, pattern, for the same price in a new transaction).

Better get this figured out pre-nomination, because I believe there is some resetting of amounts that can be donated post nomination.

[getagrip_already]

13. They will file a suit and hope to get a friendly judge

Who will put a stay on any spending.

That is their typical mo.

Only problem is it would have to be brought in dc and there isnt a good chance they will get a friendly judge.

The fec is toothless. They cant really do much without a ruling and they wont get one.

[lame54]

14. She's the other half of Biden/Harris...

It's her money too

[PortTack]

29. Yup! As savvy as President Biden and his team were..they no doubt looked at all the legal angels. They've got nothing

[lees1975]

15. Just more subterfuge.

She can and they know it. This is just more blabber, like trying to claim Biden has to be on the ballot instead. No one has been nominated as of today, it can be anyone they decide it will be.

[Diraven]

16. And here we go

Even though this is a totally BS position, all they have to do is tie this up in Trump-friendly courts for a few months and the damage is done. I predict they'll try similar things to keep Harris off the President line on ballots in November, resulting in several Republican-held states not allowing votes for her at all except mybe as a write-in.

[PortTack]

31. Marc Elias very seldom uses the word guarantee, but did yesterday "I guarantee the dem nominee will be

On the ballot in all 50 states.”

[Sunsky]

17. It says Biden-Harris

Not just Biden when I donate. The Republicans are running scared.

[ecstatic]

18. why are they playing these games when they have an 78 year old on their ticket?

trump isn't exactly in the best of health. What happens if he needs to be replaced?

[Bucky]

20. they're playing these games cause they have a 78 yr old on their ticket

If course they'll try to swindle us. That's their brand. Cheating by crooks is their principle feature.

[haele]

25. Hmmm. Will they say the same thing if TFG has to drop out?

He's really not looking good, and he's sun-dowing rapidly.

Pretty soon he's going to have the mental capacity equivalent of that punchline in a famous Monty Python skit, if you know what I mean. The GOP appears to be doing a lot of PR juggling to try to make him seem more coherent, aware, and frankly active than he actually is. Like Morton Joe. Falling apart under his plexiglass shell and facemask.

I'd feel sorry for him if he wasn't such an evil pig - man. It almost seems painful when he's being dragged out in public.

Haele

[Captain Zero]

36. Trump is old and has multiple

Personality disorders.

That's their biggest problem.

[Bucky]

19. Let's watch the public's reaction to them trying such a fast one

If they want us righteously pissed off, let them reap the "rewards"

[dawg]

21. Honestly, we should simply ignore any judge who tries to hold up these funds.

President Biden can issue pardons if necessary.

[PortTack]

32. Bingo!

[former9thward]

40. No he can't.

It is a civil matter, not criminal.

[soandso]

22. I read another article about this

(sorry, can't recall where) and Cooksey went on to elaborate that the money could be assigned (by Biden, I presume) to anyone. It was a list of legal constraints (FEC law) which included refunding donations and/or designating to them to someone else. My impression was somewhat complicated but still allowed but just requiring certain requirements/steps taken.

[NameAlreadyTaken]

23. So is that money where Trump wants to be reimbursed from?

[GaYellowDawg]

24. The remedy is simple

1. Fire the motherfucker.
2. Appoint an interim commissioner.
3. Nominate the replacement after the election.

The Supreme Court couldn't do a goddamn thing about it.

[former9thward]

41. Can't be fired.

FEC is an independent agency.

[Silent Type]

26. We'll get the money. In meantime, donate.

[Baitball Blogger]

27. Maybe there's a way to launder the money through Elon Musk?

He seems to be a loophole to these financing rules.

[DinahMoeHum]

28. Nice try, Sean Cooksey.

[ImNotGod]

30. like i have posted before, the fascists judges and appointees will use every trick in their book to help tRump

this is just the beginning.

[Takket]

35. Throw him in prison until he comes to his senses.

It’s an “official act”

I’m kidding

[Fullduplexxx]

37. Cloud the issue then kick it to the courts for a hail mary

[odins folly]

38. Don't campaigns donate to other campaigns?

If so, that fixes any issue with funds or personnel, fuck that guy….

[former9thward]

42. There are limits to what can be donated.

Just a fraction of what is in the Biden fund.