Archived version

A Democratic-aligned political action committee filed a complaint with federal election regulators accusing Donald Trump, his campaign and the social media site X of violating federal election laws during Trump’s interview with tech billionaire Elon Musk.

Trump’s lengthy interview with Musk on Monday “violated” federal rules banning corporations from making contributions to federal candidates, and barring federal candidates from accepting such contributions, alleged the complaint filed Tuesday by the group End Citizens United.

The group said the interview “amounted to a virtual campaign event for Donald J. Trump financed by X.”

“Such a brazen corporate contribution undermines the anti-corruption aims of the Act, and the [Federal Election] Commission should immediately investigate these violations and take appropriate remedial action,” the complaint said.

Campaign Treasurer Bradley T. Crate was also named in the complaint.

[…]

The complaint alleges that a “contribution” — which corporations are banned from making to candidates — includes “‘anything of value’ provided to a federal candidate in connection with their election.”

[…]

Tiffany Muller, president of the group, which is supporting Kamala Harris in the race, told The Washington Post in a statement that the interview could “set a dangerous precedent for unfettered, direct corporate engagement in campaigns.”