DeSantis’ Flight Company, Trump’s Net Worth, PAC’s Bank Fraud

Today we look at DeSantis’s aviation firm of choice, Trump’s definitive net worth and a PAC that alleges it lost $37,000 through bank fraud.

Flight Company DeSantis Hired For Martha’s Vineyard Stunt May Have Violated Law Banning Political Donations

The aviation company Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) hired to fly migrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard earlier this month may have violated campaign-finance laws by donating to a political action committee while registered as a government contractor.

Government contractors are prohibited from making political contributions, according to the Federal Election Commission. But in August 2016, Vertol Systems Company, the firm DeSantis hired, kicked off a four-year, $3.4 million contract to provide flight training to the Department of Defense.

Two weeks after its government contract began, Vertol Systems Company contributed $2,500 to North Florida Neighbors, which advertises itself as “the leading independent super PAC supporting conservative Republicans.” The firm forked over another $5,000 to that PAC in March 2017. At the time of the contributions, North Florida Neighbors was backing Matt Gaetz and Neal Dunn in their first runs for Congress.

Technically, the donations may violate the law. But both are beyond the five-year statute of limitations for enforcement. And, even if they weren’t, an expert in campaign-finance laws said it’s unlikely the FEC would take any action.

“The Republican FEC commissioners would argue that when the 2017 contribution was made, it wasn’t clear that the federal contractor prohibition was still valid after Citizens United,” said Brett Kappel, an attorney at Harmon, Curran, Spielberg & Eisenberg. In a series of cases this year, the FEC rejected the argument that Citizens United invalidated the ban on contractors donating to political committees, according to Kappel.

Spokespeople for Vertol Systems Company and North Florida Neighbors did not respond to inquiries.

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In Case You Missed It

The Definitive Net Worth Of Donald Trump

“He’s nowhere near as rich as he boasts, nor as poor as his critics claim,” reports Dan Alexander. “Donald Trump’s real net worth? $3.2 billion, according to our most recent tally, conducted in September 2022.” Follow the link for Forbes’ asset-by-asset breakdown of the former president’s fortune.

Continuing Irresolutions

Updates on Checks & Imbalances’ previous reporting

Virginia Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, testified in-person before the Jan. 6 committee on Thursday, where she “reiterated her belief that the 2020 presidential election was stolen,” reported CNN. In May, Virginia Thomas donated $250 to a Republican running for Congress who has questioned the results of the 2020 presidential election. Her political donations total at least $16,000.

Oopsies

The Consumer Technology Association’s PAC claims “an unknown individual” stole $37,000 from its bank account in August via fake checks and fraudulent ACH debits. The PAC’s bank has returned $24,000, according to an FEC filing. A spokesperson for the PAC did not immediately respond to an inquiry. The Consumer Technology Association is a trade group for technology firms.

Tracking Trump

Forbes continues to update “Tracking Trump: A Rundown Of All The Lawsuits And Investigations Involving The Former President.”

A customer at Trump National Doral poses by a marker displaying the presidential seal. Doral, which is set to host a high-profile tournament for the controversial Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series next month, is one of at least five Trump clubs displaying the markers, which may violate federal law regarding use of the seal.

Former White House senior counselor Kellyanne Conway is headlining the America First Club’s fall kickoff at her former boss’s West Palm Beach golf club in October. Tickets are $125 and include a photo with Conway and autographed copy of her book.

The America First Club “exist[s] to bring meaningful content, events, and programs to conservative thinkers,” according to its website.

Florida Kosher Vacations is returning to Trump’s Miami golf course for its Yom Kippur program next week.

• “Judge again sides with Trump in Mar-a-Lago documents fight” (Politico)
• “Grossly Inflated, Objectively False, and Therefore Fraudulent and Illegal” (Mother Jones)
• “Trump avoids Friday deposition in lawsuit by being in Mar-a-Lago during hurricane” (CNN)