TALLAHASSEE, Florida - A Washington, D.C.-based watchdog group, Campaign Legal Center, has filed a complaint with federal election regulators alleging that Never Back Down, a super PAC supporting Gov. Ron DeSantis' presidential bid, violated campaign finance laws. The complaint raises concerns regarding potential coordination between the DeSantis campaign and Never Back Down, which may have circumvented contribution limits and reporting requirements.

The scrutiny around Never Back Down has intensified as questions arise about its funding and operations. The super PAC, initially funded with over $80 million transferred from a committee associated with Gov. DeSantis' 2022 reelection campaign, has utilized its substantial resources to finance a ground operation in Iowa, a crucial state in the presidential race. Additionally, the group has regularly hosted events featuring Gov. DeSantis, prompting speculation about potential legal limits being breached.

Saurav Ghosh, the director of federal campaign finance reform at Campaign Legal Center, expressed concern about the consequences of potential illegal coordination. "When a super PAC like Never Back Down illegally coordinates its election spending with a candidate's campaign, the super PAC effectively becomes an arm of the campaign," said Ghosh. He further emphasized that this undermines voters' participation in the democratic process and grants undue influence to special interest backers.

In response to the complaint, Andrew Romeo, spokesperson for the DeSantis campaign, called it "baseless" and accused opponents of resorting to desperate measures to impede the governor's progress. Romeo highlighted that the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) has stated its reluctance to take action based on unverified rumors and innuendo.

Campaign Legal Center's recent complaint is one of five filed against Gov. DeSantis or his donors this year. Four complaints, including the latest one, have been lodged with the FEC, while the fifth was submitted to the Florida Commission on Ethics, focusing on trips taken by the governor during the promotion of his book. These complaints remain unresolved as of now.

Earlier in June, the government reform organization End Citizens United also filed a complaint with the FEC regarding the money transfer from a state committee associated with DeSantis' previous gubernatorial race to Never Back Down.

Super PACs have become a significant aspect of the current presidential campaign cycle, and recent news reports have highlighted the tensions between Never Back Down and the DeSantis campaign concerning messaging strategies. Campaign Legal Center's complaint draws upon multiple news stories to support its allegations.

The FEC will now analyze the complaint and investigate the allegations to determine whether any violations of campaign finance laws occurred. As the 2024 presidential race unfolds, the outcome of these investigations could have repercussions on the landscape of political fundraising and the influence of super PACs in American politics.