Despite a formal complaint from the Federal Elections Committee against him for this behaviour, at least one Icelandic MP attests that he “regularly” receives campaign donation solicitation e-mails from Donald Trump, and was most recently invited to try and win a coffee date with his daughter, Ivanka.
Progressive Party MP Karl Garparsson posted on Facebook yesterday that he regularly gets such e-mails from the Trump campaign, and was most recently invited to donate $33 USD to be entered into a random drawing, the winner of which would receive a coffee date Ivanka Trump at Trump Towers.
“This is too good an offer to pass up,” Karl quipped (hopefully) sarcastically.
As reported last June, numerous Icelandic MPs came forward expressing bewilderment and bemusement at receiving donation solicitation e-mails from Donald Trump. This decidedly illegal campaign tactic not only reaches farther afield than Iceland; it has also prompted the FEC to investigate him.
According to the complaint, members of parliament in Britain, Scotland and Australia also received solicitation e-mails.
“Donald J. Trump for President has knowingly and illegally solicited contributions from foreign nationals,” the complaint reads in part, pointing out that “a reasonable person would have inquired whether these individuals were foreign nationals, or concluded that there is a substantial probability that these were foreign nationals.”
Soliciting non-American nationals for campaign donations has been illegal since 1966, as is outlined in the United States Code:
“§ 441e. Contributions and donations by foreign nationals: (a) Prohibition. It shall be unlawful for — (1) a foreign national, directly or indirectly, to make — (A) a contribution or donation of money or other thing of value, or to make an express or implied promise to make a contribution or donation, in connection with a Federal, State, or local election; (B) a contribution or donation to a committee of a political party; or (C) an expenditure, independent expenditure, or disbursement for an electioneering communication (within the meaning of section 304(f)(3)) (2 U.S.C. § 434(f)(3)).”
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