The Controversial Collaboration: DNC Accuses RFK Jr. Campaign and American Values 2024 Super PAC of Colluding on Ballot Access

The political landscape of the United States has been abuzz with controversy since the Democratic National Committee (DNC) announced its intention to file a Federal Election Commission (FEC) complaint against Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s independent presidential campaign and the super PAC supporting him, American Values 2024. The allegations center around the two entities’ collaboration on ballot access efforts, which the DNC claims violates federal campaign finance laws.

On December 5, 2023, American Values 2024, a super PAC, announced its plans to invest $10 million to $15 million in ballot access initiatives. The aim was to get Kennedy on the ballot in at least ten states. However, the DNC’s complaint alleges that the super PAC’s activities are not independent of Kennedy’s campaign.

The states in question require candidates to submit draft signature petitions for state approval, turn in completed forms, identify individuals who collected the signatures, and obtain certification for circulators. The DNC argues that American Values 2024 is coordinating its activity with Kennedy and his campaign in a way that violates federal election laws.

DNC legal counsel Robert Lenhard stated during a press briefing on February 9, 2024, that “Our complaint asks the FEC to begin an investigation and remedy the violations that they find.” Lenhard further accused the Kennedy campaign of taking “shortcuts” instead of doing the hard work themselves using money raised in compliance with candidate contribution limits.

In response, Kennedy’s campaign manager and daughter-in-law, Amaryllis Fox Kennedy, issued a statement to CBS News, stating that “to her knowledge, we have yet to receive any signatures from American Values PAC or any PAC; nor have we provided any information that is not available to every volunteer and media outlet on our public website.”

The co-founder of American Values 2024, Tony Lyons, countered the DNC’s allegations, stating that the FEC complaint was “just another desperate DNC tactic to defame Kennedy, vilify him and drain his campaign funds.”

The DNC’s concerns extend beyond the potential violation of federal election laws. Senior adviser Liz Smith expressed the party’s belief that “Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s campaign and the primary super PAC backing his campaign are illegally coordinating in violation of federal election law.” Smith also raised concerns about the outsized influence of individual mega-donors, specifically billionaire Tim Mellon, who has donated a total of $15 million to American Values 2024.

Mellon, a former supporter of former President Donald Trump, made three transactions to the super PAC between July 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023. The FEC report filed in the first half of the year shows that Mellon had also donated another $5 million.

The Kennedy campaign has yet to respond to these allegations in detail. However, Amaryllis Fox Kennedy stated that they take their FEC obligations seriously and are not permitted to tell PACs what they should and should not do with their money.

The controversy surrounding the Kennedy campaign and American Values 2024 is not the only issue the Democratic Party is dealing with. The party is also concerned about the potential impact Kennedy could have on swing states, given President Biden’s age becoming a bigger campaign issue. DNC senior adviser Ramsey Reid stated that the party is “concerned that Donald Trump and his mega-donors are propping up RFK Jr.”

The FEC complaint against Kennedy’s campaign and American Values 2024 is a significant development in the 2024 presidential race. The outcome of the investigation could have far-reaching implications for campaign finance laws and the role of super PACs in the electoral process.

As the investigation unfolds, both the Kennedy campaign and American Values 2024 will need to provide clear evidence that their collaboration on ballot access efforts does not violate federal election laws. The DNC, on the other hand, will need to prove that the collaboration constitutes illegal coordination.

The controversy surrounding the Kennedy campaign and American Values 2024 is a reminder of the complex and often contentious relationship between political campaigns, super PACs, and campaign finance laws. The outcome of this investigation could set a precedent for future elections and the role of outside spending in the electoral process.

In conclusion, the DNC’s allegations of collusion between Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s campaign and American Values 2024 super PAC on ballot access efforts have sparked a significant controversy in the 2024 presidential race. The outcome of the FEC investigation could have far-reaching implications for campaign finance laws and the role of super PACs in the electoral process. Both the Kennedy campaign and American Values 2024 will need to provide clear evidence that their collaboration does not violate federal election laws, while the DNC will need to prove that the collaboration constitutes illegal coordination. The controversy serves as a reminder of the complex and often contentious relationship between political campaigns, super PACs, and campaign finance laws.