Pascrell calls on FEC to investigate Trump campaign debts

Rep. Bill Pascrell called on the Federal Election Commission to investigate President Donald Trump’s campaign over unpaid debts owed to cities where the president has held rallies.

Last week, The Washington Post reported Trump owed more than $1.1 million to cities and towns where he has held rallies dating back as far as 2016.

Much of the debt is for police overtime. Rallies, especially ones held by a sitting president, require police presence to bolster security.

“Donald Trump’s presidential campaign may ignore their obligation to reimburse local officials for the significant assistance provided at these political events,” Pascrell said in a letter to the FEC. “But FEC regulations on reporting disputed debts clearly state that these disputes must be reported until the dispute is resolved.”

It’s not clear whether Trump’s campaign is legally liable for the debts in all cases. According to The Post’s report, additional police presence is not typically subject to a contract, though candidates generally recoup host cities for their expense.

“As a Co-Chair of the House Law Enforcement Caucus and former Mayor of Paterson, New Jersey, I know local police departments are often cash-strapped and face significant resource deficits,” Pascrell said. “These officers’ service and dedication to keeping our communities safe is invaluable and cannot be understated. It is inappropriate for anyone — foremost the President of the United States — to contend that assistance and protective services provided by local public safety officers at political rallies is not something of value.”