This year’s presidential elections are in new waters, both in terms of campaign financing and in other ways. The sudden withdrawal of President Biden from the race and the assumption that Kamala Harris will be his replacement has raised many questions, not the least of which concerns the fate of the substantial Biden campaign war chest. The Harris campaign appears to assume that they will get the money since Kamala Harris is already on the ticket.
Sean Cooksey is the Chair of the Federal Election Commission. He questions that assumption and cites federal campaign regulations. He has also received a mildly threatening email from House Democrats.
House Democrats are now trying to silence me as @FEC Chairman for raising questions about President Biden giving VP Harris all of his campaign cash. All I did was quote federal regulations.
Why are Democrats afraid of the law? pic.twitter.com/pYPJOSkPbh
— Sean Cooksey (@SeanJCooksey) July 23, 2024
The tone of the letter is “Nice career you have, Mr. Cooksey.” It would be a shame if something were to happen to it.
As an example:
You posted a quote without context from 11 C.F. on X, formerly known as Twitter, on July 21, 2024. R. SS 100.1(b)(3). R. SS 110.1(b)(3).
These congressmen are essentially questioning someone whose job is to interpret and know federal laws and regulations governing election campaign finance. Here’s where the letter sent to Mr. Cooksey has a distinctly hostile tone:
Americans should be confident in their democracy and know that the rule of law is being upheld and followed. The Commission and the American people are not served by efforts to create doubt and confusion to further a partisan agenda. Please clarify your post of July 21, 2024, and refrain in the future from making unsupported statements that undermine established campaign financing law and practice.
It is important to note that only Democrats can be patriotic in their dissent.
We are, as we have already stated, in uncharted territory with this election. The FEC rules state that the Democratic candidates Biden and Harris have raised enough money to be considered “candidates,” yet the Democratic Party hasn’t officially nominated either of them for the 2024 elections. That will happen next month and it’s assumed that Kamala Harris and not Joe Biden will be the front-runner. The FEC has a big problem, and frankly, they should be left to solve it on their own, without Congress interfering. If I were in Mr. Cooksey’s shoes, my response to the thinly veiled threats and his demand for a reply would simply be “Get stuffed.”
This probably explains the fact that I have never applied for or been offered any government position.
Mr. Cooksey asked, “Why are Democrats scared of the law?” I don’t think Democrats are afraid of the law, but they do view it as a thing they can ignore whenever it suits them.
