Kasich, who is now out of office after serving two terms as governor of Ohio, is a senior political contributor on CNN and recently published a new book titled: “It’s Up to Us: Ten Little Ways We Can Bring About Big Change.”

When Priesse was asked if he wanted to comment, he said in a text message: “Ha. Nope.” His consulting firm did not respond to a request for comment.

A Kasich spokesman, Jim Lynch, wrote in a text message that “there are no new allegations from what was covered by the media in 2015. What you are describing is not accurate -- at all!”

In 2016, the liberal group American Democracy Legal Fund asked the FEC to investigate whether Kasich had violated federal election laws and regulations by “using official resources for campaign purposes,” the group alleged. ADLF, founded by liberal activist David Brock, said that Kasich and New Day had engaged in campaign activities together, such as shooting a video months before New Day had filed paperwork registering as a super PAC.

One person with direct knowledge of the investigation said that the matters being investigated now by the FEC appear different from the issues in the 2016 complaint.

An FEC spokesperson said the agency can’t comment on open or potential enforcement matters.

The FEC currently lacks a quorum to make major decisions. While its staff can process new complaints and continue investigations already underway, there aren’t enough commissioners for a quorum to vote to start new investigations, dismiss charges or punish offending campaigns.

Some Republicans still hold hard feelings against Kasich for staying in the 2016 primary for so long after his second-place finish in New Hampshire, even after it became clear that he had no path to winning the Republican presidential nomination. By staying in, Kasich may have split the anti-Trump vote enough with Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) that no one was able to catch up to Donald Trump after a series of early wins. Kasich carried only his home state of Ohio, finishing with the third-most delegates to the GOP convention.