Internet backs Trump as FEC filing reveals his leadership PAC spent $5.6M on his legal fees in February
PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: In a recent revelation, the leadership political action committee (PAC) of former president Donald Trump has made headlines yet again, this time for its substantial expenditure of approximately $5.6 million on legal expenses.
The significant sum, documented in a Federal Election Commission (FEC) filing, adds to the already considerable amount expended in Trump's ongoing legal battles.
New fundraising strategy channels donations to Trump's legal account
The intricacies of Trump's financial maneuvering have reportedly come under scrutiny, particularly concerning his new shared fundraising arrangement with the Republican National Committee (RNC).
Under this arrangement, a portion of donations is directed toward Trump's political account, which he has historically utilized to cover legal fees before any contributions are allocated to the party itself.
The precise distribution of funds from major donors through the Trump 47 Committee has been unveiled in the fine print of an invitation to an upcoming event in Palm Beach, Florida, where top-tier donors are solicited to contribute up to $814,600 per person for attendance.
According to the invitation details, the initial $6,600 donated will be allocated to Trump's campaign, followed by $5,000 designated for his Save America PAC.
Notably, Save America PAC has previously shouldered more than $50 million in legal and investigation-related expenses for Trump in 2023, with the $5,000 limit per individual donation being the maximum stipulated by federal regulations.
Subsequently, the RNC is slated to receive the next substantial tranche of $413,000, with numerous state parties following suit. Practically, this arrangement implies that even moderately sized contributors, surpassing the $6,600 threshold, will primarily finance the account utilized by Trump to offset legal costs.
The fundraising agreement comes at a crucial juncture for Save America PAC, which has been disbursing approximately $5 million monthly for Trump's legal expenses and those of associated witnesses, potentially depleting its funds by the conclusion of spring.
The precedence accorded to Trump's Save America PAC over the Republican National Committee was initially reported by The Associated Press, coinciding with Trump's effective takeover of the RNC as the presumptive Republican nominee.
This transition saw the installation of a new chairman, Michael Whatley, and Trump's daughter-in-law Lara Trump assuming the role of co-chair. Furthermore, Trump's campaign management witnessed significant restructuring under the stewardship of co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita, who implemented widespread layoffs.
Despite Trump's lead over President Joe Biden in general election polls, his campaign lags in terms of financial resources. While Biden and his joint operations boasted $155 million in cash reserves as of February's end, the Trump campaign reported $42 million across its accounts, supplemented by the RNC's $11.3 million.
The upcoming April 6 dinner, anticipated to raise $25 million, features an array of notable co-chairs, including Robert Bigelow, Kelly Loeffler, Linda McMahon, and Rebekah Mercer.
Notably, such events cater to megadonors, with the lion's share of contributions typically directed toward the party. However, for smaller gatherings with relatively higher attendance fees, a larger proportion of funds under the agreement is earmarked for Trump's PAC.
Trump officials vehemently repudiated assertions that the RNC would underwrite any of Trump's personal legal fees, stressing that the new arrangement enables Trump to access funds from major donors for his legal matters directly, bypassing the RNC.
While joint fundraising agreements are customary in presidential politics, Trump's inclusion of a PAC designated for legal expenses is atypical. Save America PAC concluded February with $4 million in reserves and approximately $500,000 in debts, underscoring its pivotal role in financing Trump's legal battles, the New York Times reported.
Internet backs Donald Trump
Supporters of the former president welcomed the news that Trump's PAC was spending millions on his legal expenses last month, saying it was fair game.
"This is the new norm now that legal warfare is part of the election process," one posted on X.
"Legal battle, how about fending off election interference, that would be more accurate," another wrote.
"DOJ should be footing the bill," someone else insisted.
"Democrats have made this the new norm. They will do whatever possible to keep Republicans out of office. It's not election interference though," another commented, sarcastically.
This is the new norm now that legal warfare is part of the election process.
— SomeGuy (@Some__G) March 21, 2024
Legal battle, how about fending off election interference, that would be more accurate.
— Christian Vaughn (@Krevlob) March 21, 2024
Democrats have made this the new norm. They will do whatever possible to keep Republicans out of office. It's not election interference though...
— Anon Anonymous (@OneOfYouNow69) March 21, 2024
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