A $92 million war chest and unclear regulations highlight the need for reform to protect political speech.
by David Keating
Reason.com
President Joe Biden’s decision to exit the 2024 race gave the public a rare look at the Byzantine world of campaign finance law.
It’s not a pretty sight. This tangle of often incomprehensible rules highlights the need for a judicial firewall to protect political speech—a “separation of campaign and state.”
After Biden stepped away, his presidential campaign committee and its $92 million war chest were essentially handed to Vice President Kamala Harris. Donald Trump’s campaign then filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), challenging the legality of the transfer.
While the situation is unprecedented, two things are certain: The law and regulations aren’t clear, and the controversy won’t be resolved before the election.