White House Press Secretary's Campaign Debt Raises Concerns Over Compliance with Election Laws

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Karoline Leavitt, the White House Press Secretary and former national press secretary for Trump’s 2024 campaign, is facing scrutiny after a recent report revealed she concealed nearly $300,000 in campaign debt from her unsuccessful 2022 congressional run. The report by NOTUS indicates that shortly after taking office, Leavitt amended 17 financial reports filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to nearly triple the amount of reported debt from her campaign.

Two-thirds of this newly reported debt is attributed to mandated refunds to donors who provided contributions exceeding legal limits. According to federal campaign finance laws, excess funds must be re-designated or returned within 60 days, a requirement that Leavitt has allegedly failed to fulfill, leading to ongoing obligations to refund hundreds of thousands of dollars.

End Citizens United, a group advocating for campaign finance reform, previously accused Leavitt of unlawfully accepting excessive contributions just before Election Day in 2022. The group's spokesperson expressed concerns that Leavitt's campaign fundraising efforts to settle her debt could create conflicts of interest for her role in the Trump administration.

The FEC confirmed that it is still reviewing the matter, which adds to the growing controversy surrounding campaign finance practices in the U.S.

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