Trump Ignores Deadline for Personal Financial Disclosures to FEC

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Former President Donald J. Trump has a minor addition to his mounting pile of legal challenges after he failed to meet a deadline to disclose his personal financial holdings.

But the threatened initial penalty of a meager $200 is the latest sign of how lax federal enforcement of campaign laws has become.

The personal financial disclosures will eventually provide the first look at Mr. Trump, including his holdings in Truth Social, the social media company he helped create.

President Trump has substantial finances, and we have advised the Federal Election Commission that additional time is needed to file his financial disclosure report, said Steven Cheung, a spokesman for Mr. Trump, in a statement.

Mr. Trump was warned that the fee could be imposed if he does not file within 30 days of the March 16 deadline, which is later this week, in a letter from the Federal Election Commissions acting general counsel that denied his request. for the third extension. last month.

Meredith McGehee, a longtime campaign watchdog, said, It’s very clear that former President Trump doesn’t feel the law applies to him and spent much of his career hiring legal representation to delay and distract. This is consistent with his general approach.

He added that the lack of teeth in the disclosure law highlighted the weak position of federal enforcement. They are kind of their finger, he said. No we really, really mean it and then usually nothing happens.

But his other legal troubles are bigger: His recent indictment in a hush-money case made him the first former American president to face criminal charges, and he faces three other investigations.

The financial disclosures of Mr. Trump was closely monitored during his first White House run and his presidency, as they provided remarkable insights into the impact of being in office on his wealth, even though income and assets were only broadly reported. that scope.

The disclosures, for example, showed how the pandemic affected his luxury hospitality businesses, and shed light on the gifts he received.

The disclosure law is part of an anti-corruption effort dating back to the Watergate era.

Other politicians have tried to delay and game the disclosure requirements. Michael R. Bloomberg, the billionaire former mayor of New York City, dramatically announced his presidential campaign in November 2019 and then dropped out after making two requests for the extension he was legally eligible for before the disclosure requirement begins.

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