The Federal Elections Committee (FEC) will investigate Donald Trump for soliciting donations from Icelandic MPs, amongst many other non-American legislators.
Last week, numerous Icelandic MPs came forward expressing bewilderment and bemusement at receiving donation solicitation e-mails from Donald Trump. It has now come to light that this decidedly illegal campaign tactic not only reaches farther afield than Iceland; it has also prompted the FEC to investigate him.
According to the complaint, members of parliament in Britain, Scotland and Australia also received solicitation e-mails.
“Donald J. Trump for President has knowingly and illegally solicited contributions from foreign nationals,” the complaint reads in part, pointing out that “a reasonable person would have inquired whether these individuals were foreign nationals, or concluded that there is a substantial probability that these were foreign nationals.”
Soliciting non-American nationals for campaign donations has been illegal since 1966, as is outlined in the United States Code:
“§ 441e. Contributions and donations by foreign nationals: (a) Prohibition. It shall be unlawful for — (1) a foreign national, directly or indirectly, to make — (A) a contribution or donation of money or other thing of value, or to make an express or implied promise to make a contribution or donation, in connection with a Federal, State, or local election; (B) a contribution or donation to a committee of a political party; or (C) an expenditure, independent expenditure, or disbursement for an electioneering communication (within the meaning of section 304(f)(3)) (2 U.S.C. § 434(f)(3)).”
The Grapevine has not as yet received word if Trump’s campaign team has responded to the complaint.
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