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PoliticsRising · 8h

GOP Sen. Kennedy says taxpayer-funded pro-Trump ads are ‘probably’ illegal

John Kennedy tells CBS the White House-funded ads praising Trump before the midterms are likely against the rules — after Republicans expanded the campaign to prime-time football broadcasts.

newest coverage 2h agosummary written 1h ago5 pieces16 likes & upvotes NewswiresRedditMastodon

What to know

  • A Republican senator publicly acknowledges that a taxpayer-funded ad campaign promoting his own party's president likely violates rules against self-promotional government spending.
  • The White House labels the Trump-focused ads 'public service announcements,' but one spot reuses footage from Trump's 2024 campaign speeches.
  • Rep. Jamie Raskin argues staff who produced or used government resources for the ad may have committed a felony Hatch Act violation, raising legal stakes beyond the political criticism.
  • The campaign is expanding just before the November midterms, airing during major sports and news broadcasts on Fox.

“Our viewers are going to see a 30-second commercial on this program. It’s on all major networks – it’s on the cable networks as well. It prominently features President Trump… Is that the best use of taxpayer money?”

Margaret Brennan, CBS Face the Nation host · CBS Face the Nation, via The Guardian ↗ · Sep 26

John KennedyJohn Kennedy US Senator (R-LA)Donald TrumpDonald Trump US PresidentMargaret BrennanMargaret Brennan CBS Face the Nation hostJamie RaskinJamie Raskin Democratic US Representative, legal scholarKristi NoemKristi Noem Former Homeland Security Secretary

GOP Sen. Kennedy says taxpayer-funded pro-Trump ads are ‘probably’ illegal
Guardian US

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts

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  1. 1

    Guardian details Raskin’s Hatch Act argument against the ad campaign

    The reporting notes Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin's contention that government employees who made or used government resources for the pro-Trump ad may have committed a felony violation of the Hatch Act, which bars partisan campaign activity by federal workers.

    “I don’t think any public official, including President Trump or Kristi Noem or John Kennedy, should spend public money … on private ads for themselves.”
    — Sen. John Kennedy, US Senator (R-LA) · source
  2. background

    Kennedy tells CBS the ad spending is ‘probably’ illegal — Asked by Margaret Brennan about a White House-funded 'public service announcement' featuring Trump, Kennedy said public officials shouldn't spend public money on ads about themselves and acknowledged there is 'probably' a rule against it.

  3. background

    Pro-Trump ad airs during nationally televised college football game — According to Medium Buying, the Trump administration used taxpayer funds to air a partisan ad featuring Trump nationwide during the Ohio State–Illinois game on Fox, repeating it during Fox News Sunday.

  4. background

    Kennedy rebukes Noem over $220m self-promotional ad campaign — In March, Kennedy criticized then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for spending millions in government funds on a $220m series of ads starring herself, calling the spending inappropriate for a public official.

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 2 outlets Republican senator criticizes White House for taxpayer-funded Trump ads

    first by Mastodon, 59m ago · also Guardian