Trump's Finances Are Now Public

The Hill reports:

Donald Trump’s financial disclosure filing with the Federal Election Commission is now public. A campaign release from when he filed his massive 92-page disclosure touted Trump’s net worth of more than $10 billion dollars. “This report was not designed for a man of Mr. Trump's massive wealth," the statement said, noting that many of the boxes max out at “$50,000,000 or more,” which doesn’t allow Trump to give a more accurate reflection of his worth. The statement announces his net worth as being “in excess of TEN BILLION DOLLARS.” The real estate magnate turned presidential candidate has touted his immense wealth from the start. Many had assumed that Trump would not actually file the documents because they would force him to air his complex web of financial dealings. Various reports have put the low-end estimate of Trump's wealth at about $1.5 billion. But his wealth is likely significantly higher thanks to those limitations in the FEC filings.

According to the filing, Trump holds 515 positions on corporate boards of directors. The full FEC disclosure form is at the link.

Complaint By Fred Karger Triggers FEC Investigation Of Rick Santorum

Former GOP presidential candidate Fred Karger, the eternal thorn in the backside of NOM, has struck again.

The Federal Election Commission is asking former presidential candidate Rick Santorum, Iowa evangelical leader Bob Vander Plaats and an anti-gay marriage organization to tell the agency why it should not investigate an allegation that they violated campaign finance limits during the last election. The complaint, brought by Fred Karger, a gay rights activist who ran a quixotic campaign for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, accuses Santorum of coordinating with the National Organization for Marriage to pay $1 million to Vander Plaats to endorse him, with the money eventually going for ads backing Santorum. That would be a violation of campaign finance law. The move by the FEC is routine when a complaint meets basic requirements. In June, the FEC sent letters to Karger and the accused: Santorum, Vander Plaats and NOM. The three now can respond to the FEC with reasons why it should not investigate the matter. "This letter signals the beginning of the beginning," said Craig Engle a campaign finance attorney at Arent Fox who is not connected to the case.

Back in December 2011, I noted that Progress Iowa had made a similar demand that the FEC look into reports that Vander Plaats had demanded a $1M payoff to endorse Santorum. (Tipped by JMG reader David)

FLASHBACK: Federal Election Commission Fines Campaign Tony Perkins Managed For Payment To KKK Grand Wizard David Duke

Read the entire ruling. The FEC originally fined the campaign $82,600, the same amount of the payment to David Duke, but the fine was reduced after mediation. The fine, it should be noted, was for attempting to cloak the payment on federally required campaign expenditure forms. It is not against the rules to buy mailing lists from the KKK or anybody else. You just have to say you did.

Complaint Filed Over Elton John Concert

Judicial Watch, a right-wing government watchdog group, has filed a formal complaint with the Federal Elections Commission, charging that last week's Elton John's fundraiser concert for Hillary Clinton violated the "foreign intervention" clause of American election law.

“Recent news reports suggest that Hillary Clinton and Hillary Clinton for President have accepted an in-kind contribution from a foreign national, Sir Elton John, in contravention of federal electon laws,” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton stated in an April 14 letter to the Office of the General Counsel for the FEC. “On behalf of Judicial Watch and its supporters, I hereby request that the FEC investigate this matter.”

According to a press release issued by the Clinton campaign, the expressed intent of the concert was to raise funds for Hillary’s campaign for president. In the release, Elton John is quoted as saying, “I'm excited to support Hillary by performing at what will be a truly memorable night.”

Press reports also show that Sir Elton John, on March 17, 2008, through the Clinton campaign, sent out a mass email announcing the concert and soliciting support. The Elton John concert took place on April 9, 2008 and raised more than $2.5 million (from the sale of 5,000 tickets) for Hillary Clinton and Hillary Clinton for President.

However, according to 2 U.S.C. § 441e, “Contributions and donations by foreign nationals,” it is illegal for any foreign national to “make a contribution or donation of money or other thing of value in connection with a Federal, State or local election.” The Washington Times reported March 27, 2008, that a “1981 FEC decision prohibited a foreign national artist from donating his services in connection with fundraising for a U.S. Senate campaign.”

“It looks as if Elton John, a foreign national, gave a valuable, in-kind contribution to Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, which is prohibited by law. The FEC and other authorities need to take appropriate action and investigate Hillary Clinton, her campaign, and Elton John,” stated Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.

I hate to say it, but the law does seem clear.