The Department of Justice violated its own internal policies when it sent a letter—which ended up in the New York Times—warning Elon Musk’s political action committee against its $1 million voter registration giveaway in swing states, the chairman of the Federal Election Commission alleges in a letter obtained by the Washington Free Beacon.
On Oct. 23, less than two weeks before the presidential election, the Times reported that the DOJ’s Public Integrity Section sent a “warning letter” to America PAC, Musk’s political group, that a $1 million giveaway for newly registered voters might violate the law. Both the letter and the leak appear to violate DOJ policies, FEC chairman Sean Cooksey argued in a letter to DOJ inspector general Michael Horowitz.
Cooksey alleges that the DOJ’s letter to America PAC was meant to influence the outcome of the November election. In his letter, Cooksey writes that the DOJ “violated the Justice Manual’s prohibition against impermissible considerations for Department actions,” which include “timing investigative steps or criminal charges, for the purpose of affecting any election.”
Cooksey also questions whether the DOJ even had the right to send the letter, which never plainly states that Musk’s giveaway violated the law. “It is not apparent that the Department allows for its attorneys to issue ‘warning letters’ in this form,” Cooksey wrote.
Musk hasn’t been charged by the DOJ for any wrongdoing related to America PAC, which supported President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign. There’s no indication that the DOJ is actively investigating Musk’s PAC, either. Philadelphia district attorney Larry Krasner (D.) sued the group last month and claimed the giveaway violated state election law. A state judge on November 4 allowed America PAC’s giveaway to proceed, stating that the scheme was not an “illegal lottery.” […]
— Read More: freebeacon.com
