- Donald Trump spent $52,431,858 on legal fees in 2023 using PAC funds, a Business Insider analysis found.
- The vast majority — nearly $40 million — went to law firms working on his personal legal problems.
- Trump spent this small fortune in donor money on his legal fees despite being a billionaire.
Former President Donald Trump has a lot of legal problems.
So do his company and three eldest children.
Often, political donors are footing the bill.
A Business Insider analysis has found that Trump supporters funded at least $52,431,858 in legal services in 2023 through two political action committees the GOP frontrunner controls.
Nearly $40 million of the $52.4 million in donor money was spent on law firms working on cases that had nothing to do with Trump’s candidacy for the 2024 presidential election, the analysis found.
The legions of MAGA faithful may not have been aware of this when they parted with their small-dollar donations last year, galvanized by Trump’s cries of “witch hunt” as he was indicted in a New York hush-money scheme in April and a Georgia election-interference case in August.
But significant portions of their donations went to law firms defending Trump in civil cases involving his real-estate empire and its top executives, including Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and Ivanka Trump.
The most surprising thing I think is that this confirms that he does sometimes pay lawyers.
Only with other people’s money.
I wonder how many are demanding upfront payment now.
Incorrect. MAGA paid some of his lawyers.
“The legions of MAGA faithful may not have been aware of this . . .”
Really I feel like if you’re thinking MAGAnuts might be upset that their political donations to trump are not going to campaign business, you probably don’t understand anything. Of course they don’t care.
Like - are you from the 50s, Business insider article rewriter? I mean I could understand that. are you normally a sheltered food critic or something has been asked to write a political article? Maybe then it would make sense.
But anyone who has been following this for more than a year should never have this question pop in their mind. And the fact that they want to propose that may be the reality is, number one, a lie, number two, normalizing propaganda, and number three, the problem with corporate news media covering trump.
They are incapable of describing the reality.
If you’re MAGA, his legal fees are an investment. He just needs to make it to the election, and then all bets are off.
Stupid question but it’s that legal? Doesn’t that money HAVE to go to his political endeavors,?
Nope.
According to the FEC:
“A nonconnected committee may expend its funds for any lawful purpose consistent with the Act and Commission regulations. An expenditure is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election.”
Paying his legal fee certainly helps him. So. It’s valid.
Didn’t really understand it so thank you for clarifying.
Of course! Happy to help.
The PAC may have considered the costs strategic value. Trump is their nominee, and his removal would cause a power vacuum. This would splinter the vote-base and hand the victory to the democrats.
As for the individuals who still donated… if after all the horrible bullshit the republicans have done, well not paying trumps fees and risking his removal would be akin to not participating at all. So they have no choice but to be satisfied with the cost.
But it does point out the quagmire that drains the PAC’s funds that could have been used in the campaign, and thats an obstacle of their own making.
Definitely has some strategic value. According to polls a sizable fraction have said they wouldn’t vote for a convicted candidate, so in effort to not lose voters he has to delay cases past the election or obtain not guilty verdicts.
Problem is getting a conviction in time. Of all the criminal cases, the only one that might have a verdict in time is the hush money one and I don’t think that rises to a felony.
The article should say despite claiming to be a billionaire.
