Steve Bannon's Use of Private Jet Linked to Chinese Businessman Could Violate Campaign Finance Law

[Judi Lynn]

The former Trump adviser used a plane apparently owned by businessman Guo Wengui. Americans are barred from receiving services for campaigns donated by foreign nationals.

by Justin Elliott Feb. 26, 5 a.m. EST

Former Donald Trump campaign CEO and chief strategist Steve Bannon used a private jet apparently owned by a wealthy Chinese businessman to fly to events to promote Republican congressional candidates in 2018.

The previously unreported flights could run afoul of a campaign finance law that bars foreign money from U.S. elections, according to campaign finance experts, though it depends on several factors that are not known. One of the unknowns is whether Bannon paid Guo Wengui — the Chinese businessman, who is a vocal critic of the Chinese regime, and with whom he has other reported financial ties — for the use of the jet.

Bannon flew on the jet, a Bombardier Global Express that can seat up to 13 people, to 2018 events supporting Republican candidates in New Mexico and Arizona. He also flew on it to Mexico City and New York, and possibly to other cities. The flights were confirmed by footage taken for “The Brink,” a 2019 documentary about Bannon, and by videos of Guo on the plane, interviews and FAA flight records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.

“The foreign-national prohibition is the broadest prohibition in the Federal Election Campaign Act,” said Brett Kappel, a government affairs partner at the Akerman law firm, speaking generally. “It prohibits foreign nationals from making any contribution or donation in connection with any election in the United States. It also precludes foreign nationals from making in-kind contributions, such as paying for campaign-related travel.”

More:
https://www.propublica.org/article/steve-bannon-guo-wengui-private-jet-campaign-finance-law

[duforsure]

1. Bannon,

The guy sent around the world meeting with hate groups for trump. Getting hate groups to back his candidate exposes his lack of morals, ethics, and his lack of character . He thinks he's above the law, and has trump info to leverage trumps protection for him.

[FiveGoodMen]

4. "He thinks he's above the law"

All repukes are above the law unless and until we punish them.

[Scarsdale]

2. I wonder if the plane had to be

fumigated after he used it? Bannon always looks scruffy, as though he needs a hot shower.

[3Hotdogs]

3. Don't matter.

The federal election commission don't enforce nothin' no more. If they did, Republican Party would be out of business. We can't have that, can we?

[Karadeniz]

6. Somehow, Trump should be made to fill out the FEC slots so it can function. The only motive for

His keeping the FEC impotent cannot be anything but sinister.

[Karadeniz]

5. Lock him up!