1. United States
  2. Wash.
  3. Letter

Investigate Trump's $5,000 "Dividend" Promise as Illegal Vote Buying

To: Sen. Murray, Rep. Jayapal, Sen. Cantwell

From: A verified voter in Seattle, WA

September 11

The $5,000 "Trump dividend" pledge made at the Republican convention in Dallas is textbook vote buying, and I want to know what you're doing about it. Federal law under 18 U.S.C. § 597 makes it illegal to pay or promise payment to influence voting. Trump's offer — cash to every American adult, contingent on Republicans winning the midterms — fits that definition precisely. This isn't a policy proposal. It's a transaction. This isn't even the first time. Rep. Robert Garcia laid it out plainly: Trump promised a dividend from tariffs, it didn't happen. A DOGE dividend, didn't happen. An Air Force One dividend, didn't happen. The pattern is deliberate — make a splashy promise before an election, collect the votes, deliver nothing. There is no accountability mechanism for that cycle, and that's the problem. The tab on this latest promise runs over $1 trillion, which even Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis called out as inflationary and fiscally reckless. I want you to call for a formal DOJ or FEC investigation into whether this pledge violates federal bribery and election law. Constituents deserve to know that promising cash for votes has consequences — for anyone, including a sitting president.

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