Ron DeSantis Accused of Breaking Campaign Finance Law

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is facing allegations of violating campaign finance law by communicating with a super PAC about TV spending decisions, according to a complaint filed by a nonpartisan government watchdog group.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is facing allegations of violating campaign finance law by communicating with a super PAC supporting his presidential bid. The Campaign Legal Centre, a nonpartisan government watchdog group, filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) on Monday, citing recent reporting by The Associated Press and others.

Coordination Between DeSantis Campaign and Super PAC

The complaint alleges that the level of coordination and communication between the DeSantis campaign and Never Back Down, the super PAC supporting him, crossed the legal line set by the Supreme Court over a decade ago. The Supreme Court's decision allowed for unlimited raising and spending by super PACs, but it also established limits on coordination with candidate campaigns.

According to Saurav Ghosh, director of federal campaign finance reform at Campaign Legal Centre, when a super PAC like Never Back Down illegally coordinates its election spending with a candidate's campaign, it effectively becomes an arm of the campaign. This circumvents federal contribution limits and reporting requirements, giving special interest backers, including corporations and ultra-wealthy individuals, a concerning level of influence over elected officials and policymaking.

DeSantis Spokesman Dismisses Complaint

In response to the complaint, DeSantis spokesman Andrew Romeo dismissed it as "baseless" and rooted in "unverified rumors and innuendo." He accused the Left of being terrified of Ron DeSantis and willing to stoop to anything to stop him.

Turmoil in DeSantis' Political Operation

The complaint comes amid widespread turmoil in DeSantis' political operation as he struggles with low polling numbers ahead of next month's Iowa caucuses. The turmoil has led to an unusual and very public airing of grievances as several top-level strategists have departed from Never Back Down.

Messaging Concerns and Communication

Last week, The Associated Press reported that multiple people familiar with DeSantis' political network said that he and his wife had expressed concerns about the messaging of Never Back Down. The governor and his wife, Casey, who is considered his top political adviser, were particularly frustrated after the group took down a television ad criticizing leading Republican rival Nikki Haley.

DeSantis' team shared these messaging concerns with members of Never Back Down's board, which includes Florida-based members with close ties to the governor. Some board members then relayed the DeSantis team's wishes to super PAC staff responsible for executing the strategy.

Previous Denials and Unlikely Consequences

Previously, the DeSantis campaign strongly denied that the governor had tried to influence the network of outside groups supporting him, citing federal laws prohibiting coordination. However, it is unlikely that DeSantis will face any immediate consequences, as the FEC often takes years to resolve complaints. Additionally, the agency's board often deadlocks on matters of campaign finance enforcement, effectively creating new precedents that sanction the activities that were the subject of the complaint.