South Carolina GOP joins FEC complaint against VP Kamala Harris’ campaign finances

FILE – Vice President Kamala Harris speaks in the East Room of the White House, March 18, 2024, in Washington. She’s already broken barriers, and now Harris could soon become the first Black woman to head a major party’s presidential ticket after President Joe Biden’s ended his reelection bid. The 59-year-old Harris was endorsed by Biden on Sunday, July 21, after he stepped aside amid widespread concerns about the viability of his candidacy. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

(WCIV) — The South Carolina Republican Party has joined a complaint to the Federal Election Commission against Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic Party nominee.

The complaint accused Harris and her campaign of misappropriating $96 million. It focuses on the transfer of campaign funds from President Joe Biden’s campaign to Harris without the formal nomination process that happens in early August.

Sixteen other state parties, Citizens United and David Bossie joined the complaint.

“The South Carolina Republican Party hopes that the Federal Election Commission will take urgent action to stop this illegal and unethical transfer of funds. The law is clear: those funds were given to ‘Biden for President,’ not ‘Harris for President,’ or even ‘Biden-Harris,’ and Joe Biden can’t simply give her $96 million,” SCGOP Chairman Drew McKissick said in a statement. “There is no joint bank account with a vice-presidential candidate until after they officially become the nominees of their Party. This was a blatant, illegal money grab, pure and simple. “Though the Democrat Party claims to be the ‘Party of Democracy’, they don’t seem to have a problem ignoring their own primary voters or campaign finance law.”

The Harris campaign has denied the accusation, stating Republicans are jealous of renewed energy by Democrats.

Following Biden ending his reelection bid and Harris earning his endorsement on Sunday, Harris’ team raised more than $81 million in 24 hours, campaign spokesperson Kevin Munoz said Monday.

On Friday, Harris earned the endorsement of former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama.

According to an Associated Press survey, Harris already has secured the public support of a majority of the delegates to the Democratic National Convention, which begins Aug. 19 in Chicago. The Democratic National Committee expects to hold a virtual nominating vote that would, by Aug. 7, make Harris and a yet-to-be-named running mate the official Democratic ticket.