Joe Biden routinely took campaign donors on tours of the White House last year – but has now stopped on the advice of his lawyers who warned of possible federal law violations, it has emerged.
The president’s campaign co-chair Jeffrey Katzenberg – co-founder of Dreamworks film studio and producer of films including Shrek, The Lion King and Toy Story – has been organizing the visits. Katzenberg is widely viewed as one of the most influential and powerful Democrat fundraisers in Hollywood.
Katzenberg invited donors so that Biden could brief them personally on his plan to defeat Trump, and reassure them about his age.
It is not known who Katzenberg invited, but known Biden megadonors include Lin-Manuel Miranda, Anna Wintour and Open AI founder Sam Altman. All three have been invited to state dinners as a thank you for their support.
Biden was giving tours of the site, including the Oval Office – but, on the advise of his lawyers, he has stopped, Axios reported.
Joe Biden has been told to keep his White House tours for donors to only certain rooms – and not to solicit campaign donations on the grounds
Jeffrey Katzenberg and his wife Marilyn are seen at a state dinner at the White House in 2009. Katzenberg is now the co-chair of Biden’s campaign, and coordinated donor invitations to the White House
Biden is allowed to host donors for meals and give briefings, but only in certain parts of the White House: the map room, old family dining room or the tennis pavilion.
He is also not permitted to solicit donations on the White House grounds.
The caution is to avoid breaking the Hatch Act, which prevents the federal government and its employees from affecting elections or going about its activities in a partisan manner.
It means that White House staff cannot organize campaign activities.
Donald Trump’s team were found to have repeatedly violated the Hatch Act during his reelection efforts. In November 2021, the Office of Special Counsel found that 13 senior Trump administration officials violated the Hatch Act, including Jared Kushner and Kellyanne Conway.
Sam Altman, the founder of Open AI, is a serious Biden campaign donor. He is seen arriving at a state dinner for India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, in June with his partner
Anna Wintour, a big donor to the Democrats and a supporter of the Biden campaign, is seen in December 2022 arriving at a state dinner to honor Emmanuel Macron, the French president
Katzenberg and Silicon Valley entrepreneur Sujay Jaswa are pictured at a state dinner for the n prime minister in October
Biden is seen with Lin-Manuel Miranda – one of his celebrity backers
Andrew Bates, the White House’s current deputy press secretary, said the Biden administration was proud of strictly adhering to the Hatch Act.
‘It is typical for any president, regardless of party, to host supporters at the White House complex, which is both a working office as well as a personal residence,’ Bates told Axios.
‘President Biden and his team take all rules concerning the White House and re-elections seriously, and we’re proud of that.’
Kedric Payne, ethics director at the Campaign Legal Center, said they were wise to keep a close eye on where the meetings were convened, and what was discussed.
‘There are certain rooms in the White House, particularly in the residence that are not covered under the Hatch Act,’ he said.
‘The president is allowed to legally meet with and entertain donors at the White House.
‘But you cannot give campaign contributions or solicit for campaign contributions while in the White House.’
Rosario Dawson, another Biden donor, and actor and director Diego Luna are seen at the White House for a screening of their film Cesar Chavez in 2014
A campaign source told NBC News in the fall that, with no major primary competition or Democratic debates, the campaign needed to find innovative ways to get donors to open their wallets.
In September, the Biden-Harris campaign pledged perks to its most prodigious fundraisers, promising invitations to events with the president and Vice President Kamala Harris, and participation in Zoom meetings with campaign staff.
The highest tier, carrying the most generous benefits, is that of ‘Biden-Harris Presidential Partner’ and applies to those who raise $2.5 million by collecting checks from other donors, known as ‘bundling.’
Those who hit the target will get special seats at a July Biden-Harris events, and access to an exclusive gathering at the convention in August, in addition to briefings from campaign staff.