Well, heres a grift you might not have heard about yet.
Karoline Leavitt – Trump’s new White House Press Secretary – used to be a congressional candidate in New Hampshire. She ran for the 1st District seat in 2022, lost to Democrat Chris Pappas by eight points, and somehow came out of it owing over $326,000 in campaign debt she still hasn’t paid.
That debt includes tens of thousands in illegal contributions and refunds she was required by law to issue within 60 days. Two years later, her campaign still hasn’t done it.
Former New Hampshire Governor Craig Benson gave her $8,700. She owes him $5,800 back. Former State Senate Majority Leader Robert Clegg Jr. gave too much, too -mand he’s been dead for a year while she’s still sitting on his $2,900.
Then there’s the illegal corporate donations. Campaigns can’t accept checks from businesses. Hers did anyway, nearly 30 of them, totaling about $38,000. One came from a dissolved LLC. Another from a Courtyard by Marriott hotel. Yes, a hotel donated to a congressional campaign.
The Federal Election Commission noticed, sent 13 letters over two years, and a watchdog group even filed a complaint. Nothing changed. Then, in January 2025 – right after Leavitt became White House Press Secretary – the campaign quietly amended its filings to reveal all the debts it had hidden. Their excuse? Duplicate filing.
Shes since refunded five donors out of more than 100. Two were her parents. One was her husband. Everyone else, including the dead state senator, is still waiting.
The campaign has $8,000 in cash. The debt is $326,370. Under FEC rules, Leavitt herself is responsible for paying it back. She now makes $180,000 as Press Secretary. To raise money to cover the debt, shed have to solicit new donations while serving as the public face of the White House – a glaring ethical problem if anyone decides to buy influence.
And even if the FEC wanted to act, it can’t. The agencys been paralyzed since May because Trump hasn’t nominated enough commissioners to reach a quorum. No quorum means no enforcement, no fines, and no accountability.
The same president who hired her is the one keeping the agency that could punish her from doing its job.
So, yes the woman now lecturing America from the White House podium is still sitting on a pile of illegal money from a campaign she lost three years ago. And unless the FEC wakes up, she might just get away with it.
Shes just another part of Trump’s administration who should be facing consequences but instead is being shielded by the office of the president.