FEC Approves $614,000 in Taxpayer Funds to Help Pence Pay Campaign Debts
The Federal Election Fee (FEC) accredited a cost of about $614,000 in taxpayer funds to former Vice President Mike Pence to pay money owed incurred throughout his temporary presidential run.
Mr. Pence, who served beneath former President Donald Trump, dropped his bid for the Republican Occasion’s presidential nomination in October 2023.
The identical disclosure type, filed July 20, stated the committee nonetheless held about $194,000 in money available on the finish of June. The submitting exhibits the marketing campaign is refunding its donors. It despatched out about $511,000—primarily in refunds—in June.
The FEC beforehand introduced that Mr. Pence’s marketing campaign committee stayed throughout the prescribed limits to obtain matching public funds. It raised not less than $100,000 by accumulating $5,000 in 20 completely different states and agreed to spending limits set by the FEC.
An FEC official beforehand advised The Epoch Occasions that Mr. Pence’s funds could also be used for certified marketing campaign bills, together with winding down prices.
Few presidential candidates apply to obtain public funding for his or her campaigns, and Mr. Pence is the one candidate from the 2024 cycle to take action.
In accordance with knowledge shared by the FEC in Could, solely recurring Inexperienced Occasion candidate Jill Stein and one-time Democratic Occasion candidate Martin O‘Malley participated in 2016. Mr. O’Malley is the present commissioner of the Social Safety Administration. Ms. Stein is at the moment operating on the Inexperienced Occasion ticket.
Pence’s Mission
Mr. Pence, the governor of Indiana from 2014 to 2017 and a former member of the Home, fell out of favor with the Republican Occasion after former President Trump criticized him for certifying the outcomes of the 2020 presidential election.
Former President Trump acquired his third presidential nomination from the Republican Occasion in the course of the Republican Nationwide Conference in July. This time round, he’s operating with Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio). Mr. Pence didn’t seem on the conference.
In accordance with a Feb. 21 announcement from Advancing American Freedom, Mr. Pence’s present initiative focuses on tax coverage, selling free commerce, defeating the Chinese language Communist Occasion, restoring U.S. international management, and selling the U.S. power business.
In June, Advancing American Freedom stated it was launching a $10 million “nationwide grassroots training marketing campaign” to defend tax cuts made in the course of the years former President Trump was within the White Home.
Representatives of Mr. Pence didn’t reply to a request for remark earlier than publication.