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Federal judge orders temporary halt to taxpayer-funded pro-Trump TV ads
The Guardian • • nation
Key Points:
- A federal judge, Jennifer L Rochon, has issued a temporary restraining order to halt taxpayer-funded TV ads promoting Donald Trump ahead of the November midterm elections, effective for at least 14 days.
- The ruling requires the administration to stop any agreements related to the ads and cancel the remaining $20 million advertising purchase, following a lawsuit alleging misuse of public funds to influence elections.
- The lawsuit was filed by government watchdog Common Cause, a Democratic candidate, and a union group, who argued the ads constituted unlawful political propaganda funded by taxpayers.
- The Democratic National Committee has filed a similar lawsuit in Washington DC, while the ads, costing over $12 million, have aired on major networks and during high-profile programs, drawing bipartisan criticism.
- The White House defended the ads as standard practice, with Trump stating he would personally fund them through his political movement, Make America Great Again.
