'Dark money': Trump files complaint against major newspaper — calls reports on him illegal
Former President Donald Trump's campaign filed a complaint against the Washington Post this week contending promotion of its election reporting constituted "illegal" propaganda on behalf of Vice President Kamala Harris.
"The mainstream media has become nothing more than pro-Kamala propaganda," the Trump campaign said in a statement. "The Democrat machine must be held accountable."
Gary M. Lawkowski, the Trump campaign's deputy general counsel, filed his complaint against the Post to the Federal Election Commission on Thursday, according to documentation shared by the Trump campaign.
"The Post that reportedly is conducting a dark money corporate campaign in opposition to President Donald J. Trump—pretextually using its own online advertising efforts to promote Kamala Harris’s presidential candidacy," wrote Lawkowski.
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The Trump campaign accused the Washington Post of violating federal election regulations after Semafor reported the paper increased spending to promote articles "neutral" on Harris and "critical" of Trump.
Semafor reported this was done amid backlash over the Washington Post's refusal to endorse a 2024 presidential candidate that media journalists report have been done to "appease Trump."
Trump has threatened media critical of his campaign with vengeance should he reclaim the White House in 2025, promising to throw reporters in jail and strip news networks of broadcasting licenses.
The Trump attorney argued Thursday that because the Washington Post reporting included communications with Harris' campaign, money paid to social media sites to boost that content constituted payment in kind.
"There is reason to believe The Washington Post has made coordinated communications, which constitute illegal corporate in-kind contributions to Harris for President, and that Harris for President has accepted such contributions," Lawkowski argued.
"While the posts do not contain the 'magic words' of express advocacy, when taken in context, with limited reference to external events, they can only be understood as calls to vote for Vice President Harris and against [former] President Trump."
Lawkowski's argument brushed aside Federal Election Campaign Act exemptions protecting the press and its right to cover political races by arguing the Washington Post was not functioning as a legitimate press entity when it promoted its coverage.
"Although a press entity is not required to be objective in delivering a news story, commentary, or editorial, the FEC has been clear that a legitimate press function is 'distinguishable from active participation in core campaign or electioneering functions,'" Lawkowski wrote.
"The Washington Post cannot avail itself of FECA’s 'press' or 'media exemption' for its dark money advertising."
The former president was convicted in May of falsifying business records to cover up hush money paid to adult film star, ahead of the 2016 presidential election, with help from tabloid executives at the National Enquirer.
Former publisher Dave Pecker testified in court he killed salacious stories about Trump and planted others to aid Trump's campaign.