Today, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) filed a supplemental complaint with the FEC alleging pro-RFK Jr. Super PAC American Values 2024 (AV24) violated the FEC’s disclosure laws again. 

AV24’s May 20th campaign finance disclosure reveals that they, once again, failed to accurately disclose a $4 million payment from Gavin de Becker in February 2024 as a “loan.” They instead disguised it as a “contribution,” which inflates their level of support and minimizes the extent to which Timothy Mellon, Donald Trump’s largest donor, is propping up AV24. 

This is not the first time the DNC has raised this issue. In March 2024, the DNC filed a FEC complaint (FEC MUR 8225) against AV24 for failing to properly disclose $10 million in payments from de Becker as “loans,” while repaying him $9.65 million. 

In response, DNC Senior Adviser Mary Beth Cahill said the following: 

“Despite what AV24 may believe, the rules do apply to them.  By continuing to inflate their fundraising numbers, and concealing the extent to which Timothy Mellon, Donald Trump’s largest donor, is propping up RFK Jr.’s candidacy, they are not only misconstruing election laws, they are deceiving the public. The DNC is here to make sure RFK Jr.’s campaign plays by the rules and to remind voters that he is a spoiler for Donald Trump.”

To read the full complaint, click here. 

Summary of the Violation: 

• Following the first complaint filed by the DNC, AV24 again failed to fix their reporting violation and did not accurately disclose de Becker’s most recent payment to the group as a loan. 
• Gavin de Becker gave $10 million to AV24 in 2023. The PAC then refunded him $9.65 million. AV24 failed to disclose these payments as “loans” and instead described them as “bridge funding.” 
• This funding allowed AV24 to mislead the public about its finances, falsely suggesting that it has more support than it really does.
• The DNC filed a complaint against AV24 and their failure to disclose on March 4, 2024. 
• AV24’s most recent monthly disclosure, filed May 20, 2024, shows the PAC once again misled the public about its finances by repaying de Becker $2 million of a $4 million payment he made to AV24 in February 2024.
• AV24 also did not disclose that an additional $2 million repayment is still outstanding. 
• Continuing to mask these loans as “contributions” obscures the fact that RFK Jr.’s principal Super PAC overwhelmingly relies on Timothy Mellon, Donald Trump’s largest donor. 
• AV24 reported receiving around $21 million in contributions between January and April 2024. Subtracting the $4 million loan from de Becker and a $4 million contribution from RFK Jr.’s own running mate, Nicole Shanahan, three quarters of the remaining contributions came from Timothy Mellon.
• Traditionally, if the FEC finds that AV24 violated the law it would result in a fine and force them to amend their filings to accurately reflect the transactions.