JAKARTA - President Donald Trump has asked for a "big investigation" of some of the celebrity support that former Vice President Kamala Harris received during the 2024 presidential campaign. There have been accusations that celebrities have been illegally paid for support for Harris.
Some celebrities have publicly denied receiving any pay, and experts say there is no FEC law prohibiting campaign payments for celebrity support.
Among celebrities Trump says are paid illegally for their support are Oprah Winfrey, Bruce Springsteen, and Beyonce, each of which appeared at last year's Harris campaign events.
"The candidates are not allowed to pay ENDORSEMEN, which Kamala did, under the guise of paying for entertainment," Trump wrote in a post on social media reported by ABC Nees, Tuesday, May 20.
The Kamala Harris campaign team paid for the production companies founded by Winfrey, Springsteen, and Beyonce for the services provided during and after the 2024 elections.
But Winfrey and Beyonce's mother, who runs the production company, said the payments were for production costs related to the events they participated in.
Campaign law experts told ABC News the Federal General Election Commission had no regulations prohibiting federal campaigns from paying celebrities or influencers for support, and it would also not be considered an illegal donation as Trump called -- as long as the payments were properly disclosed.
The Federal Trade Commission oversees the obligation to disclose for paid support, experts say.
The campaign financial disclosure shows Harris' campaign to pay Winfrey's company Harpo Productions, a total of US$1 million for "event production" on October 15, 2024, about a month after Winfrey interviewed Kamala Harris at the "Unite for America" campaign in Detroit in September.
"I don't take any personal payments. However, the people who work on the production need to be paid and paid. That's all," Winfrey said in a social media video responding to Trump's accusations.
Menurut catatan kampanye, tim kampanye Harris membayar perusahaan Beyonce, Parkwood Production Media LLC, sebesar $165.000 pada 19 November 2024, beberapa minggu setelah Beyonce naik layar pada rapat umum kampanye Harris di Houston dan secara terbuka mendukung Harris.
In a social media video, Beyonce's mother, Tina Knowles, says her daughter's accusations of being paid for her support are "lies."
He said Beyonce also paid for plane tickets for himself and his team to and from the event.
Menurut catatan, tim kampanye Harris membayar perusahaan produksi Springsteen, Thrill Hill Productions, Inc., sekitar dolar75,000 untuk perjalanan dan produksi acara pada 19 November 2024, sekitar sebulan setelah ia tampil di rapat umum kampanye Harris di Georgia.
Springsteen has not publicly discussed campaign payments to its company.
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