On Thursday, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) unanimously decided to dismiss a complaint raised by the 2024 campaign of former President Donald Trump. The complaint accused The Washington Post of engaging in “illegal corporate in-kind contributions” aimed at assisting Kamala Harris’s unsuccessful presidential bid.

Details of the Complaint

According to reports from OpenSecrets.org, the FEC voted 4-0 to reject allegations made by the Trump campaign, which claimed that The Washington Post had funded social media advertising to support articles critical of Trump. Legal representatives for the newspaper, owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos, characterized the campaign’s assertions as both “speculative and demonstrably false.”

Response from The Washington Post

Trump’s campaign had alleged that The Washington Post was conducting a “dark money corporate campaign in opposition to President Donald J. Trump” and used “its own online advertising efforts to promote Kamala Harris’ presidential candidacy.” The contention further argued that the Post was not entitled to a “press exemption” for political content, claiming it was “not functioning within the scope of a legitimate press entity.”

FEC General Counsel’s Stance

The FEC’s general counsel recommended the dismissal of the complaint, noting that The Washington Post appeared to be acting within its legitimate press function—activities that are protected under federal election laws’ exemptions for overtly journalistic endeavors. Citing an internal assessment, they advised that the case did not warrant the commission’s resources.

Conclusion

This decision highlights the ongoing debate surrounding the intersection of media and political contributions, affirming that reputable news organizations may operate within the bounds of the law in their reporting and editorial choices.