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Can corporations make direct 'in-kind' contributions to political campaigns?

Tuesday, October 20, 2020
By Seth Smalley
NO

According to the Federal Election Commission, campaigns may not accept contributions from corporations, whether cash or in-kind goods or services. (Its rules do permit contributions from political-action committees affiliated with an organization that pool contributions from affiliated individuals.)

The Republican National Committee on Oct. 16 filed a complaint with the FEC about Twitter, charging that the social-media's moderation decisions about news coverage of Joe Biden and his son Hunter amounted to an "illegal in-kind contribution" to Biden's campaign.

The commission is currently unable to enforce its regulations as it lacks a quorum of members.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
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