Super PACs are prohibited from Coordinating with Candidates. There's 2 types of Super PAC Coordination -
1. Coordinated Communications
2. Coordinated Expenditures
This article provides clarity on what a Coordinated Communication is - thecitizensaudit.com/2016/10/16/super-pac-coordination-an-explainer/
Pretty much, Coordinated Communication is when the candidate and Super PAC coordinate prior to the release of a Paid Advertisement. As discussed in the Article, 3 things need to be triggered in order for an advertisement to be considered "Coordinated":
1. Payment
2. Content
3. Conduct
But the thing is, most of the Super PAC coordination isn't in relationship to coordinating paid advertisements.
It's coordination like what's been exposed in O'Keefe's tapes - Clinton Campaign ordering shills to incite violence at Trump rallies. Or the Clinton Campaign receiving Research from Super PACs.
These things have nothing to do with paid advertisements, but they are illegal. They fall under the 2nd type of coordination - Coordinated Expenditures.
Say, for example, the Clinton Campaign directed a 'political consulting firm' to disrupt a Trump Rally. The average going rate for this Political Consulting firm is $10k. The Clinton Campaign would have 2 options of paying for this service:
1. Clinton Campaign pays the $10k directly to the firm. In an accounting sense, this would be legal.
2a. Clinton Campaign DOESN'T pay the firm anything. The Firm provides $10k worth of services Pro-Bono, for no charge, to the Clinton Campaign.
2b. However, since the Clinton Campaign DIRECTED this political consulting firm to disrupt the rally, that means the Clinton Campaign RECEIVED a $10k IN-KIND donation from the firm.
What's happening is that the Clinton Campaign is receiving a LOT of in-kind donations, but they aren't reporting any of it. Highly illegal...
