The Trump administration is currently under investigation regarding the possible illegal use of taxpayer money for television advertisements promoting Donald Trump, just weeks ahead of the U.S. midterm elections. Concerns have been raised by congressional Democrats, including Jamie Raskin from Maryland and George Whitesides from California.

Request for Investigation

In a letter dated Wednesday, Raskin and Whitesides formally requested that federal oversight bodies investigate these advertisements. They described the commercials as “desperate pre-election propaganda” and urged both the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) to assess their legality.

Details of the Advertisements

The advertisements in question commenced airing on September 23. They feature a montage of Trump images, while UFC President Dana White expresses his admiration for the former president. A subsequent ad intertwines footage of Trump with audio from a rally that targets the “deep state.” Each ad concludes with a disclaimer indicating that they were funded by the U.S. government.

Concerns of Legality

Raskin and Whitesides allege that the ads may contravene several laws, including provisions in this year’s spending bill that prohibit using taxpayer funds for “publicity or propaganda.” They also cited the Anti-Deficiency Act and restricted spending regulations surrounding federal funds. The Hatch Act, while exempting the president, applies to executive branch members, leading the lawmakers to contend that staff involvement in the ads is likely.

Responses from the Administration

In defense, a White House spokesperson characterized the advertisements as “educational and unapologetically patriotic.” Meanwhile, Trump expressed willingness to reimburse the government if the ads were found to be improperly funded.

Bipartisan Concerns

Interestingly, some Republicans have also voiced apprehensions regarding the expenditure of public funds on these advertisements. Senate Minority Leader John Thune, along with Senators Mike Rounds, John Kennedy, and Thom Tillis, have questioned the appropriateness of the financial decision, although Brendan Carr, the chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and a Trump appointee, defended the ads’ legitimacy.

Past Advertising Controversies

This situation is not the first instance of controversy surrounding government advertising spending. Previously, the Department of Homeland Security, under Kristi Noem, allocated over $200 million towards ads promoting her and Trump’s immigration policies. During Congressional testimony, Noem indicated that Trump approved the campaign, a claim Trump later denied.