Top Commerce and Treasury department officials appeared with Republican candidates and doled out millions in federal money in battleground congressional districts and states after receiving White House political briefings detailing GOP election strategy.

It's called the Hatch Act. It basically says, thou shalt not blow the federal dime to prop up candidates. That happens on some levels already (see earmarks) but those are legislated, these are administrative, which basically means, they're earmarks without getting earmarked.

It really does look like RICO is in order.

Commerce, Treasury funds helped boost GOP campaigns