(RightIsRight.co) – Left-leaning legal and advocacy groups are attacking Senator Ted Cruz’s (R-Texas) Verdict podcast amid his escalating race against Representative Colin Allred (D-Texas).
The Campaign Legal Center (CLC) and End Citizens United, two watchdog groups, recently filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), accusing Cruz of campaign finance violations.
They claimed Cruz funneled podcast ad revenue to a pro-Cruz super PAC, which violated laws against corporate contributions to campaigns.
CLC Senior Director of Campaign Finance Erin Choplak stated in a press release, “This type of funding risks putting the priorities of wealthy special interests above everyone else and makes our political process more vulnerable to corruption,”
She continued, “To give Texas voters clarity, the Federal Election Commission must swiftly investigate this matter and determine whether Sen. Cruz played a role in directing this transfer.”
Influence Watch, a project by watchdog think tank Capital Research Center, reported that CLC’s ties to left-wing foundations like the Sandler Foundation and George Soros’ Foundation to Promote Open Society have raised eyebrows among critics.
The President of Capital Research Center, Scott Walter dismissed CLC as a “Soros-funded left-wing attack group” and criticized End Citizens United as a “scam PAC.”
Despite past rebukes of CLC’s complaints against Cruz, the President of the American Accountability Foundation, Tom Jones, labeled CLC’s latest move as another “bogus nuisance complaint.”
End Citizens United, a Democrat-aligned PAC supporting Allred, has also come under scrutiny. Its connection to iHeart, where Cruz’s podcast airs, has raised questions about potential conflicts of interest.
Forbes and Democratic research group MeidasTouch reports have highlighted iHeart’s contributions to the pro-Cruz Truth and Courage PAC, which sparked further scrutiny of Cruz’s podcast.
BP’s suspension of iHeartRadio ads due to concerns about funding a Super PAC adds to the controversy. BP’s policy prohibits support for political parties or candidates, which prompted action upon learning its funds were directed to the PAC.
While Cruz’s podcast enjoys a large following and support from the oil & gas industry, questions about its funding sources persist. Despite efforts to portray Cruz as a whistleblower on Washington’s corruption, he still faces criticism and scrutiny.
End Citizens United and CLC denied any coordination with Allred’s campaign and insisted their FEC complaint aims solely at campaign finance violations, not dissuading advertisers from Cruz’s podcast.
Despite Cruz’s lead in recent polls, Allred’s campaign remains a significant target for Democrats, which marks a contentious race ahead.
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