Brandon 'AK Guy' Herrera's campaign under FEC scrutiny for $50,000 loan

When congressional candidate Brandon Herrera last week posted on social media that he was "not done fighting" after his narrow loss to incumbent U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzalez, a federal campaign-finance inquiry probably wasn't what he had in mind. On Sunday, the Federal Election Commission sent four letters to Herrera campaign treasurer Thomas Datwyler — a longtime GOP political operative with reported ties to expelled New York Congressman George Santos — asking for more information on $50,000 Herrera reportedly loaned his own campaign in December. Here may be the issue that prompted questions from the FEC: Herrera — a YouTube influencer who posts gun reviews on his channel — earned a $84,000 annual salary in 2022, according to a financial disclosure report he filed in September with the U.S. House. Unless Herrera received a substantial boost in 2023 personal income or has a deep reservoir of personal savings, the filing raises questions about his ability to fund a loan of that size.