Former President Donald Trump has reportedly shelled out nearly $50 million to his lawyers since March 2023 as he approaches the one-year mark since his initial criminal indictment. The funding for his legal battles comes mainly from his leadership PAC, Save America, which has spent $76.5 million overall from March 30, 2023, through February. Approximately $47.4 million of that money was specifically allocated for legal consulting, attorney payroll, and other legal-related services. The escalating costs indicate that Trump’s legal battles are far from over, with the potential for trials in multiple cases looming on the horizon.
The substantial rise in legal expenses for Trump is evident when compared to previous spending by Save America. Between November 2020 and March 2023, $25.2 million was spent on legal consulting, with a significant increase of $8.4 million occurring in the months leading up to Trump’s first charges. Payments to various attorneys representing Trump in different cases highlight the significant financial investments being made by Save America to support the former president in his legal troubles.
Chris Kise, one of Trump’s attorneys, emerged as a significant beneficiary of the legal payments, receiving $3.9 million through his law firm, Chris Kise & Associates, and an additional $4.3 million through Continental PLLC. Other legal representatives, including Blanche Law, John Lauro, Steven Sadow, and Susan Necheles, were also compensated by Save America for their services in Trump’s criminal cases. The significant financial support for legal fees underscores the intensity and complexity of the legal challenges facing the former president.
In addition to payments to attorneys, Save America’s legal-related expenditures included payments to expert witnesses and vendors holding electronic records for former mayor Rudy Giuliani. The PAC’s financial situation, with approximately $4 million in cash at the beginning of March, suggests that Trump’s legal costs are likely to continue to rise in the coming months. With potential criminal trials ahead in multiple cases, the financial burden on Save America and the ongoing legal battles faced by Trump are expected to remain in the spotlight.
The source of funding for Save America PAC’s substantial legal expenses raises questions about the transparency and legality of using campaign contributions for personal legal fees. While the PAC has raised $62.3 million since the start of 2023, the majority of the funds come from small-dollar donors and transfers from Trump’s other political entities. The legality of using PAC funds for personal legal expenses is a gray area in campaign finance law, with experts highlighting the lack of enforcement in such cases and the potential for legal challenges.
Beyond his legal expenses, Trump also faces significant financial obligations in civil cases, including a $91.6 million bond in a defamation case and a judgment of over $454.2 million in a civil fraud case. The financial strain on Trump, despite his estimated net worth of $2.6 billion, raises questions about how he will fulfill these financial obligations. The potential use of campaign funds to pay off civil judgments adds another layer of complexity to Trump’s legal and financial challenges, highlighting the intricate web of legal and financial considerations facing the former president.
