Committee to Defend the President

Stop Hillary PAC was founded in 2013.[11] During the 2014 election cycle, the PAC raised more than $1 million to oppose Hillary Clinton.[12]

In 2016, Stop Hillary PAC raised nearly $7 million to oppose Clinton in her bid for the presidency, spending roughly $3.5 million in independent expenditures.[13][14] Harvey stated that the PAC would spend up to $1 million to re-air ads that criticized Clinton’s handling of the 2012 Benghazi attacks.[15] The PAC ran a TV advertisement featuring former Ambassador Christopher Stevens’ grave.[16]

Harvey has stated that his mission is to "defend the president from day one."[17] His PAC runs ads, conducts polls, publishes opinion editorials, and mobilizes activists.[18][19]

In January 2017, the Committee ran a TV ad urging viewers to call a toll-free number and pledge “to defend Donald Trump.” It has also run ads touting Trump’s actions in his first 100 days, such as nominating judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court.[20]

In December 2017, the Committee filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), accusing Clinton's 2016 campaign and the Democratic Party of "an unprecedented, massive, nationwide multi-million dollar conspiracy."[21] The complaint alleged an $84 million money laundering scheme between the Clinton campaign, Democratic National Committee, Democratic state parties, and donors, claimed to be in violation of campaign finance laws.[21] In response to the allegation, the DNC called the claim a "political stunt", and pointed out that the Trump campaign had raised over $100 million from 20 Republican state parties.[22]

In June 2018, the FEC filed a motion to dismiss the complaint, stating that the Committee "lacks Article III standing because it has failed to allege a concrete and particularized injury."[23] The FEC refused to investigate the matter further, although the agency's General Counsel recommended an investigation.[24][25] According to a General Counsel report, there is "reason to believe that the DNC accepted excessive contributions."[26]

The Committee was heavily involved in Tennessee's Senate race, supporting Rep. Marsha Blackburn's (R-TN) successful campaign.[27] In September 2018, the Committee announced more than $900,000 in spending to boost Blackburn's candidacy.[28]

In August 2019, the Committee announced its support for Dan Bishop's congressional campaign in North Carolina's 9th Congressional District, pledging $200,000 to boost Bishop's candidacy.[29] In September 2019, Bishop won the special election, defeating Democrat Dan McCready with 50.7 percent of the vote.[30]

The Committee's stated goal is to help re-elect Trump in 2020.[31] In June 2019, the Committee partnered with the pro-Trump Great America PAC, pledging to register one million new Trump voters.[32] Named the "Great America Voter Drive," the project is expected to cost more than $1 million.[33] Harvey has also pledged $1 million expenditures in key battleground states, such as Michigan and Pennsylvania.[34][35]

The Committee has been critical of the Democrats' impeachment process.[36] In December 2019, the PAC praised Rep. Jeff Van Drew (D-NJ) for leaving the Democratic Party after voting against the impeachment of Trump, running a $250,000 advertising campaign in Van Drew's New Jersey district.[37][38]

During the Democratic primaries, the Committee has spent $250,000 on advertising campaigns in each of Nevada, North Carolina, and South Carolina to attack Joe Biden.[39][40][41] The ads targeted Biden's stance on immigration and questioned why President Obama hasn't endorsed him.[42][43]

One of the Committee's ads—which invokes President Obama's words to attack Biden's record on African-American issues—drew the ire of Obama representatives, which issued a cease and desist letter requesting the ad be taken down.[44][45] The Committee responded by doubling down on its anti-Biden advertising.[46]

In Iowa, the Committee deployed a rolling billboard that followed Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s town hall tour across the state.[47] In New Hampshire, the PAC enlisted thousands of grassroots volunteers, garnering national attention for its Joe Biden “Corn Pops” display and the faux “Bernie Bros.”[48][49]