Georgia’s Republican Party has reportedly spent over $1.7 million in legal fees since 2022 in order to defend GOP officials charged in the Fulton County election subversion criminal case alongside former President Donald Trump. These legal fees include $237,000 spent just last month. The charges stem from an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia, which was narrowly won by President Joe Biden. The indicted officials include former Georgia Republican Party Chairman David Shafer, former Coffee County Republican Party Chairwoman Cathy Latham, and current GOP State Senator Shawn Still.
The officials were among a group of 16 people who served as fake electors following Biden’s victory in Georgia, signing off on a document that falsely claimed Trump was the true winner. Shafer had previously boasted that none of the fake electors would have to pay their legal bills out of pocket, as the GOP would cover the expenses. Despite the significant amount of money spent on legal fees, the Georgia GOP reportedly only had $450,000 left in cash on hand by the end of last month, far less than what they had at the same point prior to the 2020 election. State GOP Chairman Josh McKoon noted that without the party’s financial support, the officials charged in Fulton County would have been financially ruined.
While the party has been committed to supporting the officials charged alongside Trump, not all Georgia Republicans are on board with using party funds for legal bills related to the former president. Governor Brian Kemp, who has faced criticism from Trump for refusing to overturn the 2020 election results, has been vocal about the challenges facing the GOP following the 2022 midterms, in which several high-profile Trump-backed candidates lost. Despite the controversy surrounding the use of party funds for legal fees, the Georgia GOP remains focused on preparing for an aggressive 2024 campaign up and down the ballot.
Trump and his remaining 14 co-defendants in Georgia have yet to have a trial date set. The former president is currently facing 34 unrelated felony charges of falsifying business records in New York, as well as two additional federal criminal cases awaiting trial. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges and continues to maintain his innocence, portraying himself as a victim of political persecution and election interference. As he gears up for an expected rematch with Biden in November, the legal battles and financial strain facing the Georgia GOP and its officials charged in the Fulton County case continue to play out in the public eye.
