Sign up to volunteer for Donald Trump’s campaign, and you might be giving up more than you bargained for.
Earlier this week, reporters began pouring over the 2,271-word nondisclosure agreement that Trump’s campaign requires its volunteers sign. The forms are extraordinarily broad, virtually prohibiting any volunteers from criticizing Trump or his family for the rest of their lifetimes, according to Rachel Sklar, a lawyer and CNN contributor.
On Twitter, Sklar noted that the forms also bar volunteers from criticizing Trump’s brands, disclosing anything personal about Trump (including his taxes), or from even employing people who work for Hillary Clinton’s campaign. (That last one’s illegal, Sklar says.)
(1) I took a look at the legal form agreement mandatory for Trump online volunteers. Many flaws! https://t.co/t7RmSNl93I
— Rachel Sklar (@rachelsklar) September 2, 2016
(4) Also it's called a "Non Disclosure Agreement" and the URL is "https://t.co/euIWccSkNF" but it includes WAY more pic.twitter.com/WGhEDblwJs
— Rachel Sklar (@rachelsklar) September 2, 2016
(5) It's written to protect all of Trump's family and enterprises and anything created to benefit same. Broad AF! pic.twitter.com/sq4Wt5pKXx
— Rachel Sklar (@rachelsklar) September 2, 2016
(6) It assumes any breach of this overbroad AF agreement causes "irreparable harm" - fully indemnified, of course. pic.twitter.com/IXC3W3ZJAr
— Rachel Sklar (@rachelsklar) September 2, 2016
(7) Even by the grossly permissive standards of Citizens United, coercing your employees is completely illegal. pic.twitter.com/rV69hba0re
— Rachel Sklar (@rachelsklar) September 2, 2016
(8) No, you can't prevent your employees from volunteering for Hillary. Coercive and illegal! pic.twitter.com/ZoIXjm6pBA
— Rachel Sklar (@rachelsklar) September 2, 2016
(9) This one's charming: the terms of this agreement were totally negotiable! pic.twitter.com/Lt5VfiFzyl
— Rachel Sklar (@rachelsklar) September 2, 2016
(11) Trump is fine with his volunteers disparaging Mike Pence btw. He's not a "Trump Person." pic.twitter.com/MmuFBtNUvH
— Rachel Sklar (@rachelsklar) September 2, 2016
(13) Never say anything bad about a "Trump Person" forever and ever! pic.twitter.com/0b8KUQeRfU
— Rachel Sklar (@rachelsklar) September 2, 2016
(14) ...or Trump Steaks: pic.twitter.com/6Vyt6GIQcB
— Rachel Sklar (@rachelsklar) September 2, 2016
Whopper of a (19), spotted by @publicola05: "information...that Mr. Trump insists remains private" (incl. "taxes"). pic.twitter.com/7kWSLXRXIz
— Rachel Sklar (@rachelsklar) September 2, 2016
In case you were wondering if this was standard campaign practice, the answer seems to be no.
Writing for Cincinnati.com, reporter Jeremy Fugleberg notes:
But requiring an online volunteer to sign such a document is a requirement unique to the Trump campaign. The campaign website for his rival, Democrat Hillary Clinton, requires no agreement for online volunteers to sign up and make phone calls.
“It’s not a typical procedure," said Matt Moore, chairman of the GOP in South Carolina, where campaigns had volunteers making similar calls from their homes ahead of the primary in February. Moore also oversees phone bank operations as the state seeks to elect its candidates in legislative races.