Today, we expect the FEC to publish reports indicating how much money was spent by political entities (PACs) to fund Donald Trump’s lawyers who appear to be protecting Trump and others in his orbit.
This leads to two legal questions that are probably floating in the clouds…
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Was a fraud committed on donors who were led to believe, through email solicitations, ads, and other appeals, that they were funding Trump’s customary campaign expenses such as media buys and additional legitimate costs usually associated with a political campaign where the candidate is not under indictment or the threat of indictment?
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Could providing or offering to pay the legal expenses of others who may be indicted or are being asked to testify in matters about Trump be construed as witness tampering or suborning perjury? Possibly, obstruction of justice?
Either one could lead to campaign law violations.
$60 Million Refund Request Shows Financial Pressure on Trump From Legal Fees
The political action committee that has been paying former President Donald J. Trump’s legal fees requested a refund on a $60 million contribution it made to the super PAC supporting the Republican front-runner, according to two people familiar with the matter.
The decision of Mr. Trump’s political team to ask for a refund of money that was meant to help his 2024 campaign, and was instead diverted to an account paying his legal bills, is extraordinary. It reflects the choice to spend precious donor cash on lawyers rather than on television advertising in the early months.
It is unclear how much money was refunded.
But the refund was sought as the political action committee, Save America, spent more than $40 million in legal fees incurred by Mr. Trump and witnesses in various legal cases related to him this year alone, according to another person familiar with the matter.
The numbers will be part of the Save America Federal Election Commission filing that is expected to be made public late on Monday. <Source>
Trump PAC has spent more than $40 million on legal costs this year for himself, others
Former president Donald Trump’s political group spent more than $40 million on legal costs in the first half of 2023 to defend Trump, his advisers and others, according to people familiar with the matter, financing legal work that has drawn scrutiny from prosecutors about potential conflicts of interest between Trump and witnesses.
Save America, the former president’s PAC, is expected to disclose about $40.2 million in legal spending in a filing expected Monday, said the people familiar with the filing, who like others interviewed spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss information that has not been made public.
That total is more than any other expense the PAC has incurred during Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign and, according to federal filings from earlier this month, more than Trump’s campaign raised in the second quarter of 2023. It will bring the PAC’s post-presidential legal spending to about $56 million, as Trump faces a federal indictment in Florida, state charges in New York, and the prospect of additional criminal indictments in Washington and Fulton County, Ga.
Trump’s advisers say the costs of providing lawyers for dozens of people are necessary and will continue mushrooming as investigations continue, trials are scheduled and the possibility of more charges looms. <Source>
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Bottom line…
As if Trump does not have enough of a legal burden – though nowhere like the mound of crap that threatens to bury President Biden and his cadre of Obamacons and Clintonistas.
Of course, the corruption at the Department of Justice must be shoveled up first.
We are so screwed.
-- Steve
“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words
“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw
“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”
“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS
"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius
“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell
“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar
“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS