Posted on 04/07/2016 9:26:00 AM PDT by Red Steel
After Ted Cruz‘s big win in Wisconsin, Donald Trump immediately went on the offensive, claiming that Cruz ‘illegally’ coordinated with a super PAC to produce damaging anti-Trump ads. Under FEC rules, candidates are not supposed to directly coordinate with super PACs which are allowed to raise unlimited funds from individuals, companies, and other groups. We did some digging into Trump’s claim, and found that he may, in fact, have a case. The rules around what it means to ‘coordinate’ are murky. LawNewz.com consulted with election law experts who agree that Cruz got himself into some gray area with at least one super PAC ad in which he was featured.
First, some background.
When confronted Wednesday morning on MSNBC about what evidence the Trump campaign had of this so-called illegal coordination, Trump’s Senior Campaign Advisor Barry Bennett said: “They (super PAC) set up an event — paid for by the super PAC, and he (Cruz) comes and gives a speech. It’s total coordination…they then film it and turn it into commercials.”
Okay, so let’s break this down. According to a 2011 FEC advisory opinion, Cruz is allowed to show up at super PAC-sponsored events. In fact, according to The Washington Post, the pro-Cruz super PAC Keep The Promise “has been effectively serving as an extension of Cruz’s official campaign, hosting major rallies for him from South Carolina to Utah. The senator from Texas appears at the events as a ‘special guest.'” As we said, that is allowed. Nothing is illegal. In fact, the FEC website says: “The Act and Commission regulations state that federal candidates and officeholders may not solicit non-federal funds, but may attend, speak at, or be a featured guest at fundraising events where non-federal funds are being raised.”
However, where Cruz entered into some muddy water is the allegation that “(the super PAC) then filmed it and turn it into a commercial.” Under federal regulations, super PACs can’t exclusively videotape interviews with the candidate that they are promoting. For example, Ted Cruz would be barred from scheduling a video shoot with a super PAC for an ad they plan to air in New York. That would be coordinating. So now, the interesting legal question for Cruz’s case, can the super PAC use footage and sound from Ted Cruz at one of their events in a campaign ad? He’s allowed to be at the event, but can they film it and then use it as an ad? Does that count as violating the rules? The answer is: we don’t know, it could be.
“This activity arguably falls into the gray area — it’s unclear how the FEC rules would apply to this political advertising strategy,” Paul Ryan with the non-partisan Campaign Legal Center told LawNewz.com. Here’s an example of an ad featuring Ted Cruz that appears to be shot at least partially shot at a Keep The Promise super PAC event:
To be clear, election experts we consulted for this story agree that the FEC has not determined whether what Cruz did is legal or not. An official from the FEC told LawNewz.com that this isn’t something that Commission has ever addressed. It is definitely a murky area.
“Sham (super PAC) events could be used as a way of getting around the coordination rules,” Ryan said, noting, though that the FEC guidelines on coordination are very lenient, and ‘woefully inadequate.”
Now, it’s not clear when the footage from the super PAC-sponsored event was shot, or who shot it. Keep The Promise has not returned an email asking for their response to this story. Neither has Ted Cruz. In order to violate coordination rules, there is a three prong test. One of the elements prohibits “material involvement of candidate or party or the agents of either in the development or dissemination or the communication.”
“What used to be a black and white line between the super PAC and the campaign is totally merging into some kind of fuzzy middle. It’s got to be stopped,” Bennett, Trump’s Senior Campaign Advisor said.
In order to find out for sure whether or not Ted Cruz violated the law, the Federal Election Commission would have to issue an opinion. But what can be said, is the super PAC entered into some uncharted waters in a post-Citizens United campaign season, where cash-infused super PACs can heavily influence the election.
Their mission: Distribute tracts to the Branch Trumpidians.
There is no way Cruz violated any laws...damnit!
And there is no way he is a liar either!
After all, he went to Harvard...they MAKE the laws.
You mean like that $500K his PAC gave to Carley’s PAC? Was that just a random gift or a Cruz payoff?
Pray America wakes
It’s true: Trump may have violated business practices law.
There have been questionable practices that have causing the instigation of both civil and criminal investigations. Trump shut down operations in at least one state to avoid a criminal investigation continuing.
May have violated campaign law. May have had an affair. May have ....... May have ....... May have ......
I suppose to keep it fair (that magic standard so loved by Mr. Trump) the Cruz campaign may question whether there has been any improper contributions, especially of services, from Trump corporate entities to the personally financed campaign. While there are no limits on an individual using personal funds, their are limits on corporate donations, even if those corporations are owned by the candidate. Office space, ballrooms used for press and other events, security, travel, and many other expenses must be accounted for even for self funded campaigns. Hard money vs soft money. What is good for the goose is good for the gander.
Seems like the simple test would be whether anyone else could have filmed the event. If they could, then it isn’t an “exclusive interview.”
Continue to be delusional.
Note the title is ‘It’s True, Ted Cruz May Have Violated Election Law With Super PAC Ads’
Note that the possible violation is described as something the PAC did, not Cruz.
Now if Cruz had STOPPED them from making the ad, that could be violation.
This is one of the fake news sites.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3418444/posts
I can tell just by the name.
I knew it before the confirmation in the Washington Examiner report.
Note who posts them.
The only thing that is true is that Rachel seema not to know her @ss from a hole in the ground
Anyone who believes that Cruz does not coordinate with his pacs is delusional
What about the video of Trump campaigning at a polling place in Wisconsin?
Founder of website:
Dan is the founder of the Abrams Media Network, which includes Mediaite.com, TheMarySue.com, LawNewz.com, RunwayRiot.com & TheBraiser.com. He co-founded GossipCop.com & the NYC restaurant, White Street and created and sold Sportsgrid.com. He is also a best-selling author & the Chief Legal Affairs Anchor for ABC News. Previously, Dan served as the General Manager of MSNBC where he defined the network as “The Place for Politics”. During his tenure, the network saw its most significant ratings and profit gains to date. He also hosted “The Abrams Report”, a nightly legal affairs program, and the acclaimed “Verdict with Dan Abrams”. Additionally, and most recently, he was the co-anchor of “Nightline” on ABC News.
Slimy Canadian Lawyer!
You mean like that $500K his PAC gave to Carley’s PAC? Was that just a random gift or a Cruz payoff?
Pray America wakes
Or slow walked a document request from the FEC? Or have a super back backing him receive millions in anonymous money laundered through straw LLC donations?
Harvard Ted has a bad habit of going to the edge of election laws. It should be no surprise he has stepped over the line.
You forgot the /s tag
Sans the big show - they might start actualy thinking and pondering questions like:
Why did Trump mortgage fail?
http://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=trump+mortgage+%22Who+knows+more+about+financing+than+me%3F%22
And,
Why does an "outsider" like Trump have such an interestingly connected array of "insiders" dangling like a Stoned Albatross around his neck?
http://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=Cohn+Trump+Stone+Epstein
This is how trump will govern.
He will use all resources to bend the law toward silencing his opponent.
This is one of the fake news sites.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3418444/posts
I can tell just by the name.
I knew it before the confirmation in the Washington Examiner report.
Note who posts them.
This is one of the fake news sites.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3418444/posts
I can tell just by the name.
I knew it before the confirmation in the Washington Examiner report.
-——————————’
You “just knew it” “can just tell by the name”
Well you are stating misinformation...not true.
Well, I actually read the article that was part of thread you posted in your zeal to discredit...Law Newz is not mentioned in article. Sooo there is NO CONFIRMATION.
Then I did this activity Freepers SHOULD do called research...
The site founder, Dan Abrams is a well known analyst for major media networks...like ABC. I recognized the name immediately because he is/waas co-anchor on Nightline.
This site was founded by Dan Abrams:
http://lawnewz.com/dan-abrams/
http://www.dan-abrams.com/
Dan is the founder of the Abrams Media Network, which includes Mediaite.com, TheMarySue.com, LawNewz.com, RunwayRiot.com & TheBraiser.com. He co-founded GossipCop.com & the NYC restaurant, White Street and created and sold Sportsgrid.com. He is also a best-selling author & the Chief Legal Affairs Anchor for ABC News. Previously, Dan served as the General Manager of MSNBC where he defined the network as “The Place for Politics”. During his tenure, the network saw its most significant ratings and profit gains to date. He also hosted “The Abrams Report”, a nightly legal affairs program, and the acclaimed “Verdict with Dan Abrams”. Additionally, and most recently, he was the co-anchor of “Nightline” on ABC News.
Frankly I think Dan Abrams website may have more Creds than an unsourced staff article written by National Examiner.
Did it ever occur to you that perhaps Abrahms sees an opportunity for a new website during an election year?
Very sloppy...no research.
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