Published June 22, 2016
Icelandic parliamentarians are scratching their heads over a mass mailing from the Donald Trump campaign asking them for donations.
Numerous members of the Icelandic parliament are both bemused and confused by an email, apparently received by all of then, asking for donations to the presidential campaign of Donald Trump. Independence Party MP Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson told MBL that he was surprised to receive the email; more so to be addressed as a “friend” of Trump in said email. He also confirmed for reporters that he would not be donating to the Trump campaign.
Trump’s campaign apparently made no distinction between conservative and progressive MPs, either. Left-Green chairperson Katrín Jakobsdóttir also reportedly received the donation plea, as did Pirate Party captain Birgitta Jónsdóttir.
All told, numerous MPs from both sides of the parliamentary political spectrum received solicitations from Trump, but it is unknown who, if anyone, donated.
It should be pointed out that, according to the United States Code, this particular campaign strategy is illegal:
“§ 441e. Contributions and donations by foreign nationals: (a) Prohibition. It shall be unlawful for — (1) a foreign national, directly or indirectly, to make — (A) a contribution or donation of money or other thing of value, or to make an express or implied promise to make a contribution or donation, in connection with a Federal, State, or local election; (B) a contribution or donation to a committee of a political party; or (C) an expenditure, independent expenditure, or disbursement for an electioneering communication (within the meaning of section 304(f)(3)) (2 U.S.C. § 434(f)(3))”
(Source: Title 2, chapter 14, subchapter 1, section 441e (United States Code, Title 2, The Congress))
The email, which you can download and read in the attachment below, claims that Trump will match every dollar donated to the campaign, while exhorting supporters to help push back against “Crooked Hillary and her pathetic cronies, as well as the dishonest liberal media”.
