Increasing concerns about black money in the 2024 election campaign

WASHINGTON (TNND) — The numbers are in and the public is learning more about how much each presidential candidate raised before the final weeks of the 2024 election.

While much of this information is publicly available, some is not, raising new concerns about the power of black money.

The 2024 political campaign is on track to be the most expensive in history: Kamala Harris raised $1 billion in three months.

Additionally, filings with the Federal Election Commission show that only three people donated about $220 million in the three-month period ending Sept. 30.

Miriam Adelson donated $95 million, Elon Musk donated $75 million and Midwest packaging magnate Richard Uihlein donated $49 million to groups supporting Trump’s candidacy.

In these cases, the FEC filings include details about where the money comes from.

Concern is growing about groups that may be shielding the donors behind the donations.

In an interview with The National News Desk, Eric Eggers, vice president of the Government Accountability Institute, explained details of a new report.

In the end, it could be political candidates or potential officeholders who are beholden to people we don’t actually know. There is no transparency.”

Eggers also wrote the 2008 book “Fraud, How the Left Plans to Steal the Next Election” and investigated the left-leaning group ActBlue, which is not the caserequire donors to provide their CVV, the security code on the back of credit cards.

“Funds could come from foreign sources if credit cards do not require a three- or four-digit CVV that helps identify the funder,” Eggers added.

The House Administration Committee is currently studying ActBlue. GOP members raised concerns in a letter to the FEC, arguing that ActBlue’s donor practices were “painfully outside the norm” and that its practices “invite the possibility of foreign donations.”

During a May 16 hearing, Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Wis., said, “Only American citizens should participate and vote in our elections.”

The Left has also expressed concerns about black money. For years, most Democrats have pushed to overturn Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the Supreme Court case that allowed corporations and wealthy donors to spend unlimited funds on elections.

During his Aug. 20 speech at the Democratic National Convention, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said: “Billionaires of both parties should not be able to buy elections, including primaries. For the sake of our democracy, we must “overturn the Supreme Court’s disastrous Citizens United decision.”

Before Election Day, voters should expect to learn more about who gave what.

For many, the question that arises after the election is what return these generous donors will receive if their preferred candidates or causes win.