Former President Donald Trump has publicly embraced Rebecca Lavrenz, a woman convicted of misdemeanors related to the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, calling her a "patriot" and helping raise money for her legal costs. Lavrenz, known as the "J6 Praying Grandma," faces potential prison time and hefty fines. Trump and his Republican allies have increasingly shown support for individuals charged in connection with the violent events of that day, with Trump even suggesting pardons for Jan. 6 rioters.
Donald Trump's Save America leadership PAC spent more on legal expenses than it raised last month, with nearly $5.6 million spent on legal bills in February, exceeding its total receipts. The PAC received a $5 million refund from a Trump-aligned super PAC, diverting resources from supporting Trump's presidential bid to paying legal bills. Trump faces 88 criminal charges in four jurisdictions and is scrambling to secure a half-a-billion-dollar bond ahead of a deadline to appeal his civil fraud case in New York. Despite owing about $530,000 to a law firm, Save America ended February with about $4 million remaining in the bank, and a joint fundraising committee with the Republican National Committee and state parties may help replenish its coffers.
GoFundMe is facing pressure to halt a fundraiser aimed at helping former President Donald Trump pay penalties from a recent civil fraud ruling, but the company is standing by the campaign, which has raised over $965,000. Critics are calling for a boycott, arguing that Trump, a billionaire, should cover the costs himself. However, legal experts argue that the fundraiser is within the platform's terms of service and does not violate campaign finance laws. Trump, who faces multiple legal battles, is expected to challenge the recent ruling that ordered him to pay $355 million in penalties.
Donald Trump's efforts to take over the Republican National Committee (RNC) and prioritize fundraising for his personal legal battles could have detrimental effects on the GOP's ability to support down-ballot candidates and state parties. The RNC's historically poor fundraising year, coupled with Trump's influence over the committee, raises concerns about the allocation of funds and the party's financial stability. Trump's focus on using donor money for his legal expenses rather than winning elections may impact the party's ability to compete in the 2024 elections, potentially leading to a significant financial and strategic disadvantage for the GOP.
Former President Donald Trump has reportedly used at least $55 million of his donors' money for legal expenses in 2023, with the majority coming from small-dollar donors. Despite this, many of these donors, including working-class individuals and retirees, express no concern about how their contributions are being used. One donor from Seattle stated that he had no issue with Trump using the money for legal bills, reasoning that Trump is being attacked and defending himself with their contributions. Trump's fundraising surged on the days he was indicted, with his campaign aggressively soliciting donations from supporters.
Donald Trump's political fundraising machine, including the Save America PAC, has spent $76.7 million on legal fees over the past two years, with a significant portion going towards battling multiple lawsuits and felony charges. The expenses include payments to prominent lawyers and expert witnesses, such as accounting professor Eli Bartov, whose testimony in a civil fraud case was criticized by a New York Supreme Court judge. Despite the hefty legal costs, experts believe it's unlikely to hamper Trump's potential 2024 presidential campaign due to his ability to raise substantial funds.
Former President Donald Trump's fundraising slowed in the last quarter of 2023, being outraised by Democrat Joe Biden, with legal expenses becoming a significant burden. Trump's campaign reported raising $19 million, while Biden's campaign raised $33 million. Despite pending legal cases, Trump is on track to clinch the Republican nomination. The largest super PAC supporting Trump sent $30 million to a separate group paying his legal bills, impacting its ability to support his election efforts. Trump's campaign ended the year with $33 million in the bank, compared to Biden's $46 million, while Trump's only remaining opponent, Nikki Haley, reported raising $17 million.
Former President Trump continues to raise significant funds but is facing mounting legal expenses, while President Biden has built a formidable cash machine but has yet to see significant impact from his spending. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley's campaign has a disciplined budget but struggles to match Trump's small-donor enthusiasm. Both parties are heavily involved in Senate primaries, with early spending and favorites emerging in competitive races.
Donald Trump's political operation spent more than it took in during 2023, with a significant portion going towards legal expenses, including $29 million in legal consulting and fees in the second half of the year. Despite strong fundraising in prior years, the operation spent roughly $210 million while raising just under $200 million. Trump faces 91 felony counts across four criminal cases, which have siphoned off resources from his 2024 efforts, including his time spent in courthouses rather than on the campaign trail.
CNN political analyst Maggie Haberman reacts to the news that former President Donald Trump's PAC spent around $50 million on legal expenses, expressing doubt that Trump's supporters would mind funding his legal fights.
Nikki Haley continues to target Donald Trump's mounting legal fees, criticizing his use of campaign funds for legal expenses and the distractions they pose, as she ramps up her attacks against him in the Republican primary, focusing on his legal baggage and portraying him as a source of chaos.
Donald Trump's political action committees spent roughly $50 million on legal expenses and investigation-related costs in 2023, as he faces four criminal indictments and potential trials. The expenses were covered by donations to his PAC, Save America, which were initially collected after the 2020 election. Trump sought to replenish the PAC's funds by requesting a $60 million refund from a different pro-Trump super PAC.
Florida governor Ron DeSantis vetoed a bill that sought to allocate up to $5m from the state budget to help cover Donald Trump's legal expenses, despite tepidly endorsing Trump after ending his own White House campaign. State senator Ileana Garcia, who proposed the bill, withdrew it after DeSantis opposed it. Trump faces 91 criminal charges and lawsuits, and DeSantis's move reflects a split within the Republican Party.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has firmly stated that state taxpayers will not be responsible for covering former President Donald Trump's legal bills, rejecting attempts by some Florida Republicans to allocate millions of dollars in government funds for this purpose. Despite withdrawing from the 2024 presidential race and endorsing Trump, DeSantis emphasized that he would not approve such funds. This decision comes amid mounting legal challenges faced by Trump, including federal cases and charges related to election interference. DeSantis' withdrawal from the presidential race and endorsement of Trump were met with gratitude from the former president, who indicated that it was unlikely for DeSantis to have a role in his administration.
The impeachment of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has cost taxpayers over $4.2 million, with the majority spent on lawyers hired by the House to prosecute Paxton. Invoices from the law firms of Rusty Hardin and Dick DeGuerin, who led the case against Paxton, amounted to over $3.5 million. The Senate also spent approximately $435,000 on the impeachment. Paxton and his allies argue that the expenses were a waste of taxpayer money, while the House defends the costs as necessary for justice. Paxton has not disclosed how he paid for his legal defense.
