Financing Presidential Inaugural Ceremonies

Federal law recognizes the potentially corrupting influence of large contributions from foreign nationals to a president’s inaugural ceremony, but fails to recognize the same potential for corruption by large contributions from U.S. corporations, wealthy individuals and special interest groups. Large contributions to benefit an officeholder frequently are given by those who have business pending before the officeholder and who seek to influence the decisions of that officeholder. This is explained further in "In the Spotlight" documents.