In the wake of a civil fraud case loss and the impending start of a historic criminal trial, former President Donald Trump’s leadership PAC, Save America, spent as much as it received last month. Legal bills continue to be a significant expense for the PAC.
According to a Federal Election Commission filing on Saturday, Save America spent nearly $3.7 million on legal-related expenses in March, which is approximately $3 out of every $4 it collected. The PAC ended the month with an additional $886,000 in outstanding legal bills, the majority of which were owed to Robert & Robert, the firm representing Trump and his family in a business fraud case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James. This case concluded in February with a hefty $355 million judgment against Trump, excluding interest.
Opening arguments are set to commence on Monday in a separate case, the criminal hush money trial brought against Trump by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. This marks the first time a former president has faced criminal prosecution.
In March, Save America paid a combined $1.14 million to Blanche Law and NechelesLaw LLP, who have been representing Trump during recent jury selection. The filings highlight the financial challenges Trump faces as the general election campaign intensifies.
President Joe Biden and the Democratic National Committee expanded their cash advantage over Trump and the GOP in March. Biden’s principal campaign committee entered April with $85.5 million, while Trump’s main campaign account had $45.1 million. The amount Save America spent on legal expenses last month is comparable to the $3.7 million Trump’s campaign committee spent in total in March as he pursues a third bid for the White House.
Save America has been kept afloat by tens of millions of dollars it has reclaimed from a Trump super PAC, MAGA Inc. The latest filings show the super PAC refunded another $5 million to Save America in March, bringing its total refunds to $57.25 million. However, this source of funds will soon be exhausted. The leadership PAC had donated a total of $60 million to MAGA Inc., and cannot seek more than that in refunds.
Trump’s political team will tap another cash pipeline in the quest to replenish that dwindling resource. Under a recently signed joint fundraising agreement with the Republican National Committee and dozens of state parties, Save America is slated to receive a $5,000 portion of money collected from each individual donor who participates in high-dollar fundraising. The agreement prioritizes payments to Save America ahead of contributions to the RNC.
The first major event under the new fundraising committee, a dinner at the Florida home of a billionaire investor, raised a record $50.5 million, according to the Trump campaign.
Financial Boost for Kennedy
This week’s filings also highlighted the financial benefit that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s vice presidential pick brings to his independent bid for the White House. His campaign received a $2 million contribution from Nicole Shanahan in March and raised more than $3 million more that month, campaign filings show. Kennedy’s campaign ended March with about $6 million in cash on hand.
Shanahan, an independently wealthy tech executive and the ex-wife of Google co-founder Sergey Brin, can contribute unlimited amounts of her own money to benefit their campaigns.
Contributor: Aaron Pellish, CNN