Michael Toner Discusses Legal Issues Associated With Providing Items of Value to Convention Delegates

April 5, 2016

Michael E. Toner, co-chair of Wiley Rein’s Election Law & Government Ethics Practice, was quoted in a CNN.com article about legal issues associated with providing monetary support and other items of value to individuals seeking to become a delegate to the Republican National Convention this summer, as GOP presidential candidates vie for delegates’ votes in order to win the party’s nomination.

According to the article, there are a number of laws and regulations that could come into play for delegates at this year’s convention. While Federal Election Commission (FEC) rules allow delegates to raise funds needed to attend the convention, delegates may not accept funds from certain sources, including corporations, labor organizations, or federal contractors. At the heart of the issue is that a ballot at a party convention is not the same thing as a vote in a federal election, therefore the laws and regulations regarding ballots at a convention are not as clear as they are in an election in which the general public votes for candidates.

“This is kind of uncharted, but I think a lot of the discussions and deals that are cut [with delegates] are more political in nature rather than monetary,” said Mr. Toner.

To read the full article, please click here.