Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event in Council Bluffs, Iowa, July 7, 2023. WASHINGTON — The Securities and Exchange Commission announced Thursday that it had settled fraud charges with Digital World Acquisition Corp ., the company that is seeking to take former President Donald Trump's social media venture public. As part of the settlement, DWAC was ordered to pay an $18 million civil penalty fee in the event that it executes a final merger and takes Trump Media and Technology Group public. Shares of DWAC rose 30% in extended trading following the SEC announcement. The fraud charges stem in part from what the SEC says were DWAC's "extensive SPAC merger discussions" with Trump's media company several months before filing paperwork to go public in Sept. 2021.

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Persons: Donald Trump, Donald Trump's, DWAC, Patrick Orlando, Trump Organizations: U.S, Republican, WASHINGTON — The Securities, Exchange Commission, Trump Media, Technology Group, SEC, White House Locations: Bluffs , Iowa, Florida, DWAC, New York, Georgia