Trump PACs face cash crunch due to legal trouble despite fundraising prowess
Julia Johnson
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While former President Donald Trump’s associated super PAC Save America demonstrated fundraising prowess by raking in $15.5 million in 2023, new Federal Election Commission filings reveal the group is more strapped for cash than was known.
In second-quarter campaign filings, Trump’s campaign touted strong numbers, as well as a treasure trove of cash on hand, $22 million, compared to Gov. Ron DeSantis’s (R-FL) $12 million and relatively high burn rate. However, as reports emerge detailing the high cost of Trump’s legal woes, his war chest appears to be shrinking at a remarkable rate.
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The largest expense for the Save America PAC was legal consulting, as expected, due to Trump’s legal problems. The group reported spending $21 million in legal expenses.
Republican consultant Rob Pyers noted that Trump’s various fundraising committees and PACs have pulled in roughly $135 million in the last year and a half but have just about $32 million left.
https://twitter.com/rpyers/status/1686156372797169664?s=20
The first Republican presidential caucuses are roughly five months away, and the general election will take place more than a year from now. Between the two, Trump’s trial in the classified documents case is scheduled for May 2024. He also expects a new indictment “any day” from special counsel Jack Smith in the investigation into the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
Last week, it was reported that the Save America PAC would report $40 million in legal expenses.
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“In order to combat these heinous actions by Joe Biden’s cronies and to protect these innocent people from financial ruin and prevent their lives from being completely destroyed, the leadership PAC contributed to their legal fees to ensure they have representation against unlawful harassment,” campaign spokesman Steven Cheung told CNN in a statement.
The cash struggles mean the top two contenders for the Republican nomination are facing monetary problems with months to go until the primary contest. Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), however, has played it safer. The single-digit-polling candidate reported the second-most cash on hand at the end of the second quarter, behind only Trump. Scott had $21 million.