Georgia’s Republican Party has reportedly spent over $1.7 million in legal fees since 2022 to defend GOP officials charged alongside former President Donald Trump in the Fulton County election subversion criminal case. The party has paid $237,000 in legal fees just last month alone, according to a report published by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Trump and 18 co-defendants were indicted last year on felony charges related to attempting to overturn the outcome of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia, which was won by President Joe Biden. Among the officials indicted alongside Trump are former Georgia Republican Party Chairman David Shafer, former Coffee County Republican Party Chairwoman Cathy Latham, and current GOP State Senator Shawn Still.
These Republican officials were among 16 individuals who served as fake electors following Biden’s win in Georgia, signing off on a document falsely claiming Trump was the true winner. Shafer had assured in February 2023 that the party would cover the legal fees for the fake electors, ensuring they would not have to pay anything out of pocket. Despite having paid significant legal bills prior to the Fulton County trial, the Georgia GOP reportedly only had $450,000 left in cash on hand by the end of last month, much less than the $1.3 million they had at the same point before the 2020 election. Current Georgia GOP Chairman Josh McKoon stated that without the party covering the legal bills, the officials charged alongside Trump would have been financially ruined.
Not all Georgia Republicans are supportive of party funds being used to cover the legal bills linked to Trump. Governor Brian Kemp, a frequent target of Trump’s criticism since refusing to overturn the 2020 election, has expressed concerns about the party’s financial resources. After several high-profile Trump-backed candidates lost in the 2022 midterms, Kemp argued that Republicans could no longer rely on the traditional party infrastructure. Among the Trump-backed candidates who lost was former Senator David Perdue, who was defeated by Kemp in a primary challenge endorsed by Trump. Despite the internal disagreements within the party, a trial date for Trump and the remaining co-defendants in Georgia has not been set.
In addition to the legal challenges in Georgia, Trump is currently on trial for 34 unrelated felony charges of falsifying business records in New York. He also faces two additional federal criminal cases awaiting trial. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges in each case, maintaining his innocence and claiming to be the victim of political persecution and election interference. As he moves towards an expected rematch with Biden in the upcoming elections, Trump continues to assert his innocence and challenge the legal cases against him. The situation highlights the deep divisions within the Republican Party regarding how to address the legal issues surrounding Trump and his associates.
