A newly formed super PAC, The Fellowship, has made its first major expenditure, spending $300,000 on advertising for a Republican candidate, Clay Fuller, through a company co-founded by Tether's US CEO, Bo Hines. The PAC, which claims to be rooted in transparency, has been linked to Tether, although the company has not confirmed the connection. The expenditure was made to Nxum Group, a firm co-founded by Hines, who is also a former adviser to President Donald Trump.
The move has raised questions about the potential for self-dealing, although experts note that such practices are not necessarily prohibited under US campaign finance rules, as long as services are provided at fair market value. The Fellowship PAC has announced its support for several Republican candidates, including Fuller, who recently won a special election. The PAC's disclosures do not yet show a significant stockpile of contributions, despite an earlier announcement that it would be established with pledges of $100 million. An outside spokesperson for Tether stated that Tether International has no affiliation or oversight over the Fellowship PAC, while a representative for the PAC did not respond to questions about its funding or activities.