Donald Trump is accused of a new federal crime while making advances on RFK Jr.

Former President Donald Trump has been accused of a new federal crime by social media users who claim he promised former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. a position in his administration if he was re-elected despite his support.

On Friday, Kennedy Jr. withdrew from the race and endorsed Trump, the Republican presidential nominee. Later that evening, he joined Trump at a campaign rally in Glendale, Arizona.

In his speech, Kennedy Jr. mentioned the issues on which he and Trump agree, such as “food security and ending the chronic disease epidemic,” ending the war between Russia and Ukraine, free speech and rebuilding the middle class.

Before Kennedy Jr. dropped out of the race, there were reports that he had met with Trump and tried to discuss his political future with Vice President Kamala Harris, now the Democratic presidential candidate.

The Washington Post In July, it was reported that Kennedy Jr. had spoken with Trump about supporting the former president and taking a job in his administration if he wins the election in November, according to people familiar with the matter. Kennedy Jr.'s campaign confirmed he met with Trump “to discuss national unity” but did not elaborate on the details of the meeting.

Meanwhile, representatives of Kennedy Jr.’s campaign team told post in an Aug. 14 report that he had sought a meeting with Harris the week before to discuss a possible role in her administration if he supported her. The report said the vice president had shown no interest in meeting with Kennedy Jr., according to people familiar with the matter.

When Kennedy Jr. announced his departure and support for Trump, he said the former president had “asked him to include him in his administration,” but left open what role he might be assigned.

On Tuesday, Trump told CNN that he would “probably” consider appointing Kennedy Jr. to his administration if he wins the presidential election later this year.

Trump has not been charged with any new crimes, and neither he nor Kennedy Jr. have admitted to this alleged exchange of quid pro quo. Newsweek reached out to Trump's campaign team and Kennedy Jr.'s former campaign team via email on Saturday afternoon, requesting comment.

Some people on X (formerly Twitter) accused Trump of illegally offering Kennedy Jr. a job in his administration in order to gain the support of former independent candidates.

“Oh, by the way, it is a FEDERAL CRIME to promise a government position in exchange for supporting a candidate. So of course convicted felon Donald Trump got RFK Jr. to support him. And of course former prosecutor Kamala Harris refused to meet with RFK Jr.,” wrote Tristan Snell, a lawyer and legal commentator who led the New York Attorney General's Office's 2013 civil suit against Trump University, a real estate training program Trump created in the early 2000s.

Trump denied any wrongdoing in the case, but a judge found him guilty of operating the school without the required license.

“Kennedy offered his support to both candidates. Trump illegally offered him a job. Harris wouldn't even take the call. That tells you all you need to know,” wrote David Lazarus, a business and consumer news reporter for KTLA in Los Angeles.

One X user, George Leventhal, wrote, “It's not that Trump or RFK Jr. care about following the law, but it is illegal to offer a job in exchange for political support,” and linked to a Cornell Law School webpage that discusses the law Trump is alleged to have broken.

The federal law entitled “Promising Employment or Other Advantage for Political Activity” states that anyone who “promises, directly or indirectly, to any person any employment, position, compensation, contract, employment, or other advantage provided for or made possible in whole or in part by any Act of Congress, or any special consideration for the receipt of such advantage, in exchange, favor, or reward for political activity or for the support or opposition of any candidate or political party in connection with any general or special election for political office, or in connection with any primary election or political convention or assembly for the selection of candidates for political office, shall be fined or imprisoned for a term not exceeding one year, or both, under this Act.”