Maryland lawmaker seeks federal probe into taxpayer funding of Trump TV spots – WTOP News
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Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin is calling for a federal investigation of television spots paid for by taxpayers that heavily promote President Donald Trump, which are airing just weeks before the midterm elections.
Raskin and Rep. George Whitesides, of California, wrote this week to the General Accountability Office seeking a probe into the ads, which the White House has called public service announcements.
But Raskin pointed out that one of the videos is nearly identical to an ad that President Trump ran in 2024.
“The American people are apparently paying for Donald Trump to create desperate preelection propaganda,” the lawmakers said in their letter, which was also sent to the Office of Special Counsel.
Raskin said the ads being run by the Trump administration “constitute an illegal use of taxpayer funds.”
The lawmakers noted that federal law prohibits the use of federal funds for government propaganda. They also said placing the ads may violate the Hatch Act, which prohibits executive branch employees from using their official positions to interfere with an election.
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President Trump defends the ads
The White House has insisted the videos are PSAs and points to past spots run by previous presidents.
Asked about the spots on Wednesday, the president said he is not up for reelection and he’s not promoting anyone else.
“When I’m talking about making America great, or making our country great, that’s a countrywide ad,” he said. “That’s an ad for the spirit of our country.”
But even some Republicans have said they don’t believe taxpayer money should be paying for the ads.
Senate Democrats have written to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, following up on reports that $20 million that was supposed to go to Customs and Border Protection was redirected to pay for the ads.
“These ads need to immediately come off the air, taxpayers need to be paid back for this theft, and everyone responsible needs to be held accountable for this corrupt and illegal propaganda,” said the letter from U.S. Sen. Patty Murray of Washington state and U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut.
While the president has said he is not up for reelection, he has urged Republicans to “pretend” he’s on the ballot when they vote in the midterm elections.
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