Elder Releases His Finances Including Working for the Epoch Times

Under state law, candidates are required to disclose financial interests to avoid potential conflicts of interest if they assume office. The state does not require specific figures for income in the disclosures, only general ranges, so its impossible to tell how much Elder earned from each source.

After an initial filing with the state did not list sources of income, the California Democratic Party filed a complaint with state regulators arguing that Elder failed to properly disclose his income in his company, Laurence A. Elder and Associates. The campaign responded that an “innocent mistake” had occurred, leading to the release of the four-page revised document for income from July 2020 through July 2021.

Only income above $10,000 must be listed Elder’s filing showed 11 such sources. Among them: Salem Media Group, which carries his nationally syndicated radio show; a film company in which he is involved; and advertising from a supplement company, Promedev Relief Factor.

Other reported payments came from Epoch Times, which was launched in 2000 by members of the Falun Gong spiritual movement that is banned in China, and speeches to Republican organizations, the conservative group Turning Point USA, Calvary Chapel in Chino Hills and Heartbeat at 22, a nonprofit that advocates against abortions.