The President Tied a $5,000 “Trump Dividend” to Republicans Holding Congress as Federal Law Bars Expenditures Offered to Influence Voting
President Donald Trump stood before the GOP’s Dallas midterm convention and made the offer in plain English: Keep Republicans in control of Congress, and every adult citizen gets $5,000.
“If the Republicans win, you win with us and you get $5,000.” — Donald Trump
Trump labeled it the “Trump Dividend.” Associated Press and Reuters confirmed he attached the payment to Republicans retaining the House and Senate.
Federal law addresses offers made to influence an election.
“Whoever makes or offers to make an expenditure to any person, either to vote or withhold his vote, or to vote for or against any candidate.” — United States Code
That is the operative language of 18 U.S.C. § 597, the federal ban on expenditures to influence voting. The statute provides a fine, up to one year in prison, or both; a willful violation carries up to two years.
Trump’s offer did not merely promise broad economic policy. He made a cash pledge conditional on voters returning his party to power.
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The legal argument turns on the statute’s phrase “in consideration of” a person’s vote. AP reported that attorney John Day called it a legal campaign promise because Trump offered the money to all adults, regardless of how any individual voted.
But the president’s own condition remains the issue. His proposal did not say Americans would receive $5,000 because the country prospered. It said they would receive it if Republicans won.
The law assigns the potential penalty. The Justice Department now has the words.