'Reasonable': Internet supports RNC member Henry Barbour as he floats draft resolution to bar party from paying Trump's legal bills

WASHINGTON, DC: A prominent Republican National Committee (RNC) member, Henry Barbour, has submitted two draft resolutions to bar the committee from covering former President Donald Trump's substantial legal expenses and to maintain neutrality in the ongoing GOP primary race.

First reported by The Dispatch, the longtime RNC member from Mississippi floated the resolutions amid speculations of Trump's increased influence within the committee as he closes in on becoming the party nominee for the November presidential election.

The GOP frontrunner recently endorsed North Carolina GOP chair Michael Whatley and his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, for co-chairs of the RNC as current chair Ronna McDaniel signaled her decision to step down after the February 24 South Carolina primary.

Earlier this month, his daughter-in-law pledged to spend RNC's 'every single penny' to help Trump win in November.

The former President's legal woes amounted to more than $500 million following the penalties in the New York civil fraud trial and E Jean Carroll's defamation verdicts.

What did draft resolutions say?

A part of the draft resolution obtained by the dispatch said, "The Republican National Committee and its leadership will stay neutral throughout the Presidential primary and not take on additional staff from any of the active Presidential campaigns until a nominee is determined by reaching 1215 delegates."

However, the resolution connected to Trump's legal expenditures did not directly mention the ex-president's name. It read, "Spending any RNC financial resources for any candidate's personal, business, or political-legal expenses, not related to the 2024 election cycle, does not serve the RNC's primary mission of helping to elect our candidates in 2024."

"Therefore, be it RESOLVED that the Republican National Committee will not pay the legal bills of any of our candidates for any federal or state office but will focus our spending on efforts directly related to the 2024 election cycle," it continued.

Trump's Save America PAC and Make America Great Again Inc spent over $50 million in his legal defense in 2023. In addition, Save America PAC disbursed nearly $3 million in January alone.

Apart from his two civil cases, the former President is indicted over four criminal cases ranging from his alleged attempt to overturn the 2020 election result, including instigating the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, falsifying business records to pay money to adult film actress Stormy Daniels and the fourth one for mishandling classified documents.

Internet offers support to draft resolutions

Barbour's draft resolution to prevent RNC from paying the former President's mounting legal fees and penalties secured support from the internet.

 Though the majority labeled the move 'reasonable', there was skepticism regarding the MAGA faction thwarting the resolution.

One user said, "Sounds very reasonable to me."

"Reasonable, but the MAGA faction won't support it. Hurts their candidate," another user opined.

A third user added, "The RNC is not responsible for Donald's legal fees. Trump himself caused all this to happen. Therefore, Donald is totally responsible for himself. Stop trying to bail this lowlife out of financial trouble. Trump doesn't care about any of you. Only when money in his pocket is involved."

"A Republican with a backbone who is also capable of independent thought!" a fourth person praised Barbour.

One remark read, "This seems like a sensible approach to the problem," and another added, "This seems sound and logical. So of course he will be censured."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.