As 2016 U.S. presidential campaigns get underway, candidates are already raking in unprecedented amounts of donations–and being accused of violating campaign finance laws, according to new reports.
But the Federal Election Commission (FEC), the agency in charge of regulating campaign finance, along with the U.S. Justice Department, are unlikely to do anything to stop it.
According to statements from commissioners, the FEC is hampered by internal partisan disputes that have prevented it from making any progress on reining in abuse of those laws.
Reuters journalist Michelle Conlin on Thursday pointed to the “charade” campaign of former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, whose yet-undeclared candidacy status allows him to “skirt all sorts of campaign fundraising rules,” as an example of the kind of election-season bonanza going unchecked by the government.
“Jeb Bush is seen as the most egregious possible violator of campaign finance law,” Conlin said.