The First Presidential Campaign to Go Bankrupt?

More than two years ago, Ciara Torres-Spelliscy wrote a prescient article for the Brennan Center, in which she noted how Trump's re-election campaign had the telltale signs of a business which was doomed for bankruptcy. Last month, Rick Newman at Yahoo News went a step further to claim that we're watching a bankruptcy unfold.

But how likely is that, really? It turns out that it's nearly unprecedented. The reason, according to Slate Magazine, is that

under campaign finance law, an uncollected loan from a corporation—whether it’s a bank or a sign maker—could be construed as an illegal contribution

In the past we've seen candidates carry campaign debt over from year to year, leaving vendors patiently in the lurch, much the same way Atlantic City was forced to stave off the fallout from Trump Casino bankruptcies. And many times, their party will help to retire that debt. But that has always required a certain level of comity between the ex-candidate and their party.

Trump's election fraud investigation may well be just a scam to bilk supporters out of campaign donations, but at some point he will have to fish or cut bait: There will become a point where to proceed with litigation would just be beating a dead horse and the party will see the whole affair as bad for their brand. Trump will have to choose to abandon his pursuit, or risk alienating the party and its resources.

Without his "Election Defense Fund" bringing in campaign contributions through the back door, he has virtually no chance of raising the funds to retire his campaign debt. And to continue would open the door to having the party and fellow politicians walk away from him.

At this crossroads is where we find the potential for the first ever Presidential Campaign Bankruptcy.

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Comments

snoopydawg's picture

Biden’s bankruptcy bill let rich people continue filing for it, while making it harder for we little people and there’s Trump taking advantage of it right in front of us. Meanwhile millions of people who are unemployed are racking up debt big time and how hard will it be for them to get it?

I commented on this earlier today. Ironic indeed.

I don’t know if it’s true, but I saw a tweet about Trump still doing rallies until they decide Who won. I bet he has lots of supporters that will help him retire his debt.

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9 users have voted.

Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

bondibox's picture

@snoopydawg This would not be a personal bankruptcy for Mr. Trump, and I don't think it's comparable to another business bankruptcy. As stated, a campaign bankruptcy at this scale is unprecedented because it's overshadowed by FEC regulations, and the implications of that are far reaching. If anyone still carries the illusion of him running again in 2024 a campaign bankruptcy would make them drop that illusion. Beyond another campaign it would put an indelible blemish on his brand and the party. In short, he'd really have to screw the pooch for the GOP to let it happen, but if Trump is one thing it's stubborn.

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6 users have voted.

F the F'n D's

for Trump 2020? As of the last report (mid Oct iirc) his victory fund had over $80 million, but that can't be transferred directly to his campaign fund. But the party has ways to "launder" cash.

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3 users have voted.