Cruz Ethics Scandals 101: Cruz’s Super PAC Owns His Podcast

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AUSTIN, Texas – There’s a “slew of potential legal and ethical issues” surrounding Ted Cruz these days. Having a hard time keeping track? We’ve got you covered this week.

First, on Cruz’s sketchy podcast deal:

  • The main Cruz-supporting super PAC, Truth and Courage PAC, owns Cruz’s podcast (that he stars in and hosts), and that podcast in turn funnels revenue to the super PAC.

  • Ted Cruz famously podcasts three times a week – and has reaped at least $630k in super PAC revenue for his labor.

  • Which is why legal experts have repeatedly raised “serious potential campaign finance issues” with Cruz’s podcast after it was revealed that iHeartMedia – which distributes the podcast – has been making massive payments to Truth and Courage PAC.

  • On top of that, the Houston Chronicle recently reported that Truth and Courage PAC, “barred under federal law from coordinating with Cruz or his campaign, said it owns the podcast and pays all associated taxes for it.”

  • And a spokesman “did not respond to questions about the PAC’s ownership of the show.”

TL;DR –  The super PAC “barred under federal law” from coordinating with Cruz owns the podcast starring Cruz. Revenue from the podcast is funneled back into the super PAC.

And Cruz still won’t address this arrangement.

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