Donald Trump Could Lose South Carolina's 50 Delegates For Not Supporting Loyalty Pledge, Report Says
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Donald Trump could reportedly lose all the delegates he won in the South Carolina primary after threatening not to pledge his support to the Republican nominee if it's not him.
Time reports the Republican front-runner could lose 50 delegates because South Carolina was one of several states that required the presidential candidates to pledge their loyalty to the eventual nominee to have a spot on the primary ballot.
"Breaking South Carolina's presidential primary ballot pledge raises some unanswered legal questions that no one person can answer," the state's Republican Party Chairman Matt Moore told Time. "However, a court or national convention Committee on Contests could resolve them. It could put delegates in jeopardy.
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Trump signed a pledge to "hereby affirm that I generally believe in and intend to support the nominees and platform of the Republican Party in the November 8, 2016 general election" when he filed for South Carolina's ballot.
South Carolina has not selected delegates yet for the Republican National Convention. The state could challenge the rules to allow the delegates to pledge their support for other candidates.
During a CNN Town Hall on Tuesday, Trump said he would not pledge to support the Republican nominee.
"No, I don't anymore. I have been treated very unfairly," Trump said.
On Thursday, Trump met with Republican Party leaders in Washington, D.C., after threatening to reverse his pledge, CBS2's Marcia Kramer reports.
"Just had a very nice meeting with Reince Priebus and the GOP. Looking forward to bringing the Party together – and it will happen!" Trump tweeted.
The Republican National Committee told CBS News Priebus and Trump had a "productive conversation about the state of the race."
"The Chairman is in constant communication with all of the candidates and their campaigns about the primaries, general election, and the convention. Meeting and phone conversations with candidates and their campaigns are common and will increase as we get closer to November," RNC spokeswoman Lindsay Walters said
According to CBS News, Trump has 737 of the 1,237 delegates needed to secure the nomination. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is second at 460.
