1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

On September 9, 2026, President Trump publicly offered every American adult a $5,000 payment if and only if Republican candidates won control of both the House and Senate in the upcoming midterms. This offer directly violates federal law 18 U.S.C. 597, which explicitly prohibits making or offering to make any expenditure to any person to vote for or against any candidate, or to withhold their vote. Violators face fines and imprisonment of up to two years for willful violations. Trump's offer constitutes a textbook violation of this statute. He used his position and the platform of the presidency to condition a promised government payment on Republican electoral success—precisely the conduct Congress criminalized decades ago to protect the integrity of elections. While the Supreme Court has granted presidents immunity for acts taken in their official capacity, Trump's offer was made as a candidate at a campaign event, not in any official presidential function. His statement cannot reasonably be construed as a legitimate exercise of presidential authority. Congress has a duty to enforce the law equally. This blatant violation cannot be overlooked regardless of the president's status. I urge you to initiate an investigation into this violation and hold the president accountable under the law.