WASHINGTON (AP) — A government oversight group says President Donald Trump’s reelection effort is hiding nearly $170 million in spending from mandatory public disclosure by routing payments through companies tied to his former campaign manager. The nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center made the allegation in a complaint filed Tuesday with the Federal Election Commission. The group says the use of firms linked to former campaign manager Brad Parscale masked the ultimate recipients of the money, which it described as a “laundering” effort that violates election law. Trump communications director Tim Murtaugh disputed the allegations and said the “campaign complies with all campaign finance laws and FEC regulations.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS
File-President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Saturday, July 11, 2020, before boarding Marine One for a short trip to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. he Republican National Committee and President Donald Trump’s campaign say they have now hired 1,500 field staffers, aiming to convert their financial advantage over Democrats into votes in November. Trump Victory, the joint field effort of the two organizations, announced Monday, July 13, 2020, the hiring of an additional 300 staffers set to hit 20 target states by Wednesday in the largest field operation over mounted by a Republican. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais/File)

Posted
and last updated
Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.