A new report reveals that a fund set up to support the legal expenses of Donald Trump’s allies has spent a significant amount of money but very little of it has gone towards actual attorney fees or court costs. The Patriot Legal Defense Fund, established in July 2023, aimed to raise money to help cover legal expenses related to defending against legal actions arising from political activities. However, an IRS filing showed that of the $478,000 spent in the first quarter of 2024, only $342 went to an actual law firm, with the majority going to a computer forensics and eDiscovery service provider.
The fund’s expenses in the first quarter of 2024 included $465,000 paid to HaystackID for attorney review services, $3,000 to accountants, and $2,500 reimbursed to a photographer who worked in the Trump White House. The fund also received $390,000 in donations during the same period, with a significant contribution of $250,000 coming from Marlene Ricketts, co-owner of the Chicago Cubs. Other notable donations include $100,000 from a Florida retiree and $5,000 from Senator Steve Daines’ leadership PAC.
The Patriot Legal Defense Fund is registered in Virginia and lists Trump advisers Michael Glassner and Susie Wiles as its directors. Lynne Patton, a former assistant with the Trump Organization and later a senior official at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, is the finance director of the fund. In total, the fund has raised $1.9 million and spent $877,000, with previous expenses including payments to Washington D.C.-based law firms and Mar-a-Lago for a banquet.
In 2023, the fund disclosed paying $371,000 to two law firms and $18,000 to Mar-a-Lago for an event. The fund’s executive team and spokespeople for HaystackID did not immediately respond to inquiries about the fund’s spending and activities. The fund’s goal of supporting allies of Donald Trump with legal expenses has raised questions about how the money is being used and whether it is truly fulfilling its intended purpose of assisting individuals facing legal challenges related to their political activities.
As the Patriot Legal Defense Fund continues to raise and spend money, transparency and accountability will be key factors in determining the efficacy of the fund in supporting Trump allies with their legal expenses. With high-profile donors and significant expenditures, the fund’s operations and spending decisions are likely to face increased scrutiny in the coming months.
