{"id":2324559,"date":"2024-08-14T16:41:02","date_gmt":"2024-08-14T20:41:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democratic-pac-files-fec-complaint-against-trump-and-x-over-elon-musk-interview-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-08-14T16:48:14","modified_gmt":"2024-08-14T20:48:14","slug":"democratic-pac-files-fec-complaint-against-trump-and-x-over-elon-musk-interview-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democratic-pac-files-fec-complaint-against-trump-and-x-over-elon-musk-interview-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Democratic PAC files FEC complaint against Trump and X over Elon Musk interview &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdemocratic-pac-files-fec-complaint-against-trump-and-x-over-elon-musk-interview-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2324559&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A Democratic Political Action Committee (PAC) has filed\u200d a complaint with the Federal Election Commission\u200b (FEC) regarding an interview\u200b between former President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter). The PAC, End Citizens United, argues that the interview constitutes an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/donald-trump-arrest-timeline-of-trumps-indictment-involving-hush-money-payments\/\" title=\"Donald Trump arrest: Timeline of Trump&#039;s indictment involving hush money payments\">illegal <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/after-taking-millions-from-corporate-pacs-maloney-wants-big-corporate-money-out-of-politics\/\" title=\"After Taking Millions from Corporate PACs, Maloney Wants \u2018Big Corporate Money Out of Politics\u2019\">corporate contribution<\/a><\/a> to Trump&#8217;s campaign since it was \u2062promoted as a\u2063 live, unscripted \u200bdiscussion hosted on X. The event reportedly faced technical issues, \u200dwhich Musk attributed to a cyberattack, and involved\u200c resources from X&#8217;s staff. End Citizens \u2062United claims \u200cthat Musk&#8217;s support for Trump during the\u200d interview violates campaign finance laws \u200cand undermines the integrity of the electoral process. The PAC is urging the FEC\u200d to investigate and impose the maximum penalties on \u2064Trump and X Corp. Additionally, the United Auto Workers (UAW) has also initiated\u2064 legal action related to this interview, indicating growing scrutiny of the political influence of corporate entities in elections.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Democratic PAC files FEC complaint against Trump and X over Elon Musk interview<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1729977\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A Democratic Political Action Committee has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission over former President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Donald Trump&rsquo;s<\/a> interview with X owner <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/elon-musk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Elon Musk<\/a>. The committee claimed the interview was a &ldquo;corporate contribution.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Musk touted the interview with Trump as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3118093\/musk-promotes-unscripted-interview-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>an &ldquo;unscripted&rdquo; discussion<\/a> between the two billionaires, which was hosted on X and went on for two hours. End Citizens United, a PAC organization, described the live talk as a &ldquo;campaign event&rdquo; <a href=\"https:\/\/endcitizensunited.org\/latest-news\/press-releases\/end-citizens-united-files-fec-complaint-against-trump-campaign-and-x-over-illegal-corporate-contribution\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>in a press release<\/a> announcing its FEC complaint and that the resources Musk used to host this call violated campaign finance laws.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Donald Trump-Elon Musk campaign rally hosted on X wasn&rsquo;t just an incoherent diatribe of lies marred by technical difficulties. It was a blatantly illegal corporate contribution to Donald Trump&rsquo;s campaign,&rdquo; said End Citizens United President Tiffany Muller. &ldquo;This <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/liberal-group-wants-feds-to-punish-musk-for-talking-to-trump-blatantly-illegal\/\" title=\"Liberal Group Wants Feds to Punish Musk For Talking to Trump: &#039;Blatantly Illegal&#039;\">brazen corporate contribution undermines campaign finance laws<\/a> and would set a dangerous precedent for unfettered, direct corporate engagement in campaigns. The FEC must investigate this corporate-funded campaign event and hold Trump, his campaign, and X Corp. accountable.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/endcitizensunited.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20240813135304431.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>The complaint, filed Tuesday<\/a>, argued that some of the resources used for the event included X staff addressing &ldquo;technical difficulties&rdquo; during the call because the live talk started out with a delay that Musk blamed on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3118777\/five-takeaways-trump-x-conversation-elon-musk-marred-rocky-start\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>&ldquo;a massive DDOS attack on X.<\/a>&rdquo; The complaint also claimed Musk &ldquo;repeated express advocacy&rdquo; for Trump during this call.<\/p>\n<p>As such, the complaint asks the FEC to fine the respondents &ldquo;the maximum amount permitted by law.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Former President Donald Trump, right, talks with Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk at the White House in Washington, Feb. 3, 2017. (AP Photo\/Evan Vucci, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>End Citizens United is not the only group that has taken legal action against Trump&rsquo;s interview with Musk. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/uaw\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>United Auto Workers<\/a> filed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3119627\/uaw-labor-charges-trump-musk-worker-intimidation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>federal labor charges against both billionaires<\/a>. The UAW noted how the two &ldquo;advocated for the illegal firing of striking workers&rdquo; and argued that workers cannot be fired for going on strike under the National Labor Relations Act.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Similarly, Thierry Breton, European Union commissioner for the Internal Market, wrote a letter to Musk warning that he and X could face repercussions if his conversation with Trump ventured into territory the EU deemed hateful or misleading. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3120028\/eu-commissioner-letter-musk-trump-interview-without-permission\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>The EU has since distanced themselves from Breton<\/a>, arguing he had not received permission to send the letter.<\/p>\n<p>Musk and Trump discussed a wide range of topics during the interview, including the assassination attempt on the former president, Vice President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kamala-harris\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Kamala Harris<\/a> and her record on the southern border, and vowing to build an Iron Dome missile defense system in the United States. Last month, Musk endorsed Trump in his bid for the White House.<\/p>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1729977\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1729977\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Democratic Political Action Committee has lodged a complaint with the Federal Election Commission regarding former President Donald Trump&#8217;s interview with Elon Musk, the owner of X. The committee asserts that the interview constituted a &#8220;corporate contribution.&#8221; Musk promoted the two-hour discussion as an &#8220;unscripted&#8221; exchange between two billionaires, which took place on X. End Citizens United, the PAC in question, characterized the live event as a &#8220;campaign event&#8221; in their press release announcing the FEC complaint, arguing that Musk&#8217;s resources used to facilitate this call breached campaign finance regulations. Tiffany Muller, President of End Citizens United, stated that \u201cthe Donald Trump-Elon Musk campaign rally hosted on X wasn\u2019t just an incoherent diatribe of lies marred by technical difficulties; it was a blatant illegal corporate contribution to Donald Trump\u2019s campaign.\u201d She emphasized that this type of corporate involvement undermines campaign finance laws and could set a troubling precedent for unrestricted corporate participation in political campaigns. The complaint requests that the FEC impose maximum fines on those involved.<\/p>\n<p>The complaint also highlighted how some resources utilized during the event included X staff addressing &#8220;technical difficulties,&#8221; which were attributed by Musk to a significant DDOS attack on X. Additionally, it claimed that Musk actively supported Trump during their conversation. <\/p>\n<p>End Citizens United is not alone in taking action against Trump&#8217;s interview with Musk; the United Auto Workers have filed federal labor charges against both individuals for allegedly advocating for unlawful firings of striking workers\u2014an act prohibited under the National Labor Relations Act. Furthermore, Thierry Breton, European Union commissioner for Internal Market affairs, sent a letter to Musk warning him and X about potential consequences if their discussion strayed into areas deemed hateful or misleading by EU standards; however, EU officials later distanced themselves from Breton&#8217;s letter.<\/p>\n<p>During their conversation, Trump and Musk covered various topics including an assassination attempt on Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris&#8217;s record concerning border issues while also pledging to establish an Iron Dome missile defense system in America. Last month saw Musk endorsing Trump&#8217;s presidential candidacy once again<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2632,"featured_media":2324560,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Musk-and-Trump-2017-1024x683.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[32939,32192,35942,3634,32076],"class_list":["post-2324559","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-democratic-pac","tag-elon-musk","tag-fec-complaint","tag-trump","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Musk-and-Trump-2017-1024x683.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2324559","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2632"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2324559"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2324559\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2324560"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2324559"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2324559"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2324559"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}