MORRISTOWN, NJ – Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s presidential campaign has been slapped with a federal complaint claiming it is funneling dark money from a Texas LLC in order to hide big money donors from the public eye.
On June 30, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) filed a significant complaint against SHBT, LLC (“SHBT”), a Texas entity connected to Chris Christie’s 2024 presidential campaign. The complaint alleges a serious violation of federal campaign finance laws and demands a thorough investigation.
According to the complaint, SHBT formed precisely one year prior, contributed $1,000,000 to Tell It Like It Is PAC (“Tell PAC”), a super PAC supporting Christie’s campaign.
However, the FEC complainants believe that SHBT was not the true source of the funds but was used as a “straw donor” to conceal the identities of the real contributors.
The complainant has been identified as D.C.-based Campaign Legal Center.
The complaint outlines that SHBT’s primary purpose in the year leading up to the contribution appears to have been to purchase and hold undeveloped property valued at just over $7,000.
It raises questions about the company’s financial means to contribute to the super PAC substantially.
The $1 million donation stands as the largest contribution Tell PAC has received, and the complaining alleges that one or more unidentified true contributors transferred money to SHBT to contribute to Tell PAC while hiding their true identities.
The complaint asserts that SHBT and the unknown true contributors violated 52 U.S.C. § 30122, which prohibits making or knowingly permitting one’s name to be used to effect a contribution in the name of another. The document has been filed under 52 U.S.C. § 30109(a)(1) and cites potential violations of the Federal Election Campaign Act (“FECA”), 52 U.S.C. § 30101, et seq.
The FEC will now determine whether there is sufficient reason to believe that SHBT and any individuals who created, operated, and made contributions in the name of SHBT violated federal law. If so, an investigation into the alleged violations will follow.
This complaint adds another layer of complexity to Christie’s presidential campaign and could have significant political implications. It highlights ongoing concerns about campaign finance transparency and the lengths to which some entities may go to circumvent legal requirements.
As of this writing, neither Chris Christie’s campaign team nor representatives from Tell PAC have publicly responded to the complaint.
The full scope of the investigation and its potential impact on Christie’s presidential bid remain to be seen.