FEC Legal Expert: New York Attorney General Alvin Bragg Has No Authority Against Trump – Watch
New York Attorney General Alvin Bragg announced on Tuesday that he is investigating former President Donald Trump for possible campaign finance violations. However, according to legal expert Hans von Spakovsky, Bragg has no authority to enforce federal campaign finance laws.
“The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is the only federal agency with the authority to enforce campaign finance laws,” Spakovsky, a senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation, told The Daily Caller News Foundation. “The FEC is a bipartisan commission with six members, three of whom are appointed by the president and three of whom are appointed by Congress.”
Bragg is a Democrat who was elected attorney general of New York in 2021. He has no experience in enforcing federal campaign finance laws. In fact, he has never even served on the FEC.
“Bragg’s announcement that he is investigating Trump for campaign finance violations is nothing more than a political stunt,” Spakovsky said. “He knows that he has no authority to enforce federal campaign finance laws, but he is hoping to score political points with Democrats by going after Trump.”
Bragg’s investigation is a waste of time and taxpayer money. It is also a clear violation of the separation of powers. The FEC is the only federal agency with the authority to enforce campaign finance laws, and Bragg should respect that authority.
“Bragg’s announcement is also a sign of the growing politicization of the Department of Justice,” Spakovsky said. “Bragg is a partisan Democrat who is more interested in going after his political enemies than he is in upholding the law. This is a dangerous trend, and it is one that needs to be stopped.”
The American people deserve a Department of Justice that is independent and impartial. They do not deserve a Department of Justice that is used as a weapon by partisan politicians.
“Bragg’s investigation is a clear example of the politicization of the Department of Justice,” Spakovsky said. “It is a waste of time and taxpayer money, and it is a violation of the separation of powers. The American people deserve better than this.”
#FEC expert Hans von Spakovsky says the #ManhattanDA #AlvinBragg doesn't have a legal leg to stand on. Arresting #Trump is purely political. #StormyDaniels #MichaelCohen https://t.co/s8P0sSy0a1
— Ken Crow (@kwrcrow) March 19, 2023