WASHINGTON, USA: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s campaign has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), asserting that Vice President Kamala Harris cannot legally take over the funds raised by President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign.
After Biden, an 81-year-old Democrat, endorsed Harris and ended his reelection bid on Sunday, Harris assumed control of Biden’s campaign accounts. Her campaign quickly secured pledges from a majority of delegates for the upcoming party convention, effectively clinching the nomination.
David Warrington, general counsel for the Trump campaign, filed the complaint, alleging Harris’ actions constituted a “brazen money grab” and labeled it as “the largest campaign finance violation in American history.” The complaint centers on Harris taking control of the approximately $95 million in Biden’s campaign funds.
However, Saurav Ghosh, a lawyer at the Campaign Legal Center, a non-partisan watchdog group, contends that Harris’ claim to the funds is valid because she was already part of the “Biden for President” campaign as the vice-presidential candidate. He believes the FEC is unlikely to resolve the issue before the November 5 presidential election.
The FEC has declined to comment on the matter while it is unresolved. In the meantime, Harris’ campaign announced it had raised $100 million since Biden’s endorsement, surpassing the remaining funds in Biden’s campaign account in just a few days.
“Republicans may be jealous that Democrats are energized to defeat Donald Trump and his MAGA allies, but baseless legal claims – like the ones they’ve made for years to try to suppress votes and steal elections – will only distract them while we sign up volunteers, talk to voters, and win this election,” said Harris campaign spokesperson Charles Kretchmer Lutvak.
