Corbin Trent, a former senior aide to Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has been accused of diverting substantial donor funds from his political action committee (PAC) for personal gain, while spending only a fraction on the PAC's stated mission.
Trent, who played a pivotal role in Ocasio-Cortez's rise to power, established the No Excuses PAC in 2021, following his departure from her team in 2020. The PAC was created with the objective of dismantling the Senate filibuster by targeting Democratic senators Joe Manchin and Kirsten Sinema.
However, recent reports suggest that the PAC has spent minimal amounts on its declared objectives. Instead, Trent reportedly paid himself nearly $140,000 for alleged communication and management consulting services between February 2021 and September 2023, according to Federal Election Commission filings.
In contrast, during the same period, the PAC spent a mere $14,831 on radio advertisements targeting Manchin and Sinema. This implies that Trent's PAC compensated him tenfold for alleged consulting services compared to what it spent on its stated goals.
Trent, who did not respond to requests for comment, told the Daily Beast that his earnings came from television appearances, which he claimed furthered the PAC's mission. However, it was noted that he consistently paid himself even when he was not appearing on television.
Before advising Ocasio-Cortez and subsequently forming No Excuses, Trent co-founded Justice Democrats, a key force behind Ocasio-Cortez's political ascent. Ocasio-Cortez's office has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Recently, No Excuses has shifted its focus from the filibuster to persuading President Biden not to seek re-election, and is soliciting donations for this cause.
In an advertisement, No Excuses stated, "President Biden, you've accomplished more in three years than most two-term presidents. But battleground state voters say they'll vote for Trump if you're the Democratic nominee. If you attempt to cling to power, your legacy will be Donald Trump's final destruction of our democracy. If you step aside, however, you'll be remembered as one of the greatest presidents in history. Thank you, Joe. But now it's time to go."
No Excuses reportedly has just over $1,500 in its bank account according to its most recent filings, and has not disclosed how much it has raised to date.
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