Donald Trump’s political action committees have accumulated significant legal bills, reaching nearly $29 million in just six months, according to recent filings. This substantial expenditure underscores the financial challenges posed by the former president’s mounting legal entanglements, which are being partially shouldered by his political contributors.
The two key political action committees in question, Save America PAC and Make America Great Again PAC, collectively spent over $50 million of contributors’ funds on legal expenses over the course of last year, as reported by Federal Election Commission records. This hefty spending has significantly depleted the once-ample reserves of Save America PAC, which finished the year with approximately $5.1 million remaining in its coffers.
Despite these substantial legal bills, a Trump campaign aide has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the spending. The New York Times had previously reported that legal spending by Trump’s PACs was expected to reach roughly $50 million for the year.
The former president currently faces four separate criminal indictments, in addition to high-profile civil litigation. Notably, a federal civil jury recently awarded former magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll $83.3 million as part of a defamation trial against Trump.
In a separate legal battle, a New York state judge is preparing to determine the financial liability of Trump and his co-defendants for alleged fraud, following a prior ruling that the former president had engaged in fraudulent activities within his real estate and branding empire. The civil lawsuit, brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, seeks a staggering $370 million from Trump and his co-defendants.
Despite these mounting legal challenges, Trump continues to allocate 10% of the funds collected from political donors through a joint fundraising committee into Save America. This PAC has primarily served as the financial vehicle for covering Trump’s legal expenses as he navigates the legal landscape while simultaneously seeking a return to the White House.
The substantial legal bills incurred by Trump’s political action committees serve as a testament to the complexities and costs associated with the legal battles faced by the former president. As Trump maintains his political ambitions, the financial burden of these legal proceedings remains a notable factor in his political and financial outlook.
