A reclusive billionaire, anti-tax crusader and major financial backer of Donald Trump has been named as the anonymous private donor who gave $130m to the government to help pay US troops during the federal shutdown that is now in its fourth week, according to the New York Times.

The donation, which equates to about $100 per service member, appears to be a potential violation of the Antideficiency Act, which prohibits federal agencies from spending funds in advance or in excess of congressional appropriations – and from accepting voluntary services “except in the case of emergency involving the safety of human life or the protection of property”.

Potential penalties for violations include both administrative and criminal sanctions such as suspension or removal from duty, fines and imprisonment.

  • plz1@lemmy.world
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    19 hours ago

    This wasn’t a gift, don’t be delusional. He’s buying something or someone, we just don’t know what.

    • BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today
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      8 hours ago

      “Okay, TommyBoy - you don’t mind if I call you TommyBoy do you? Of course you don’t - so TommyBoy, here’s what we’re going to do. You’re going to pay $130 million to pay our troops enough to buy some ramen soup for a month, and I’m going to give you ANYTHING you want. Hell, I just gave Argentina $40 billion, instead of health care for Americans, just so the SecTreas’ friends wouldn’t go belly up in their irresponsibly risky investment with a country that goes bankrupt every 3.5 years.”

      “My name is Timothy.”

      “What? No, it’s TommyBoy now. So whaddaya say, TommyBoy, you in?”

      “Sure, whatever you say, Your Excellency.”