The Democratic National Committee has paid law firms representing President Joe Biden in the special counsel probe into his handling of classified documents. The DNC has paid $1.05 million to attorney Bob Bauer and nearly $905,000 to Hemenway & Barnes, the firm representing Biden in the investigation by special counsel Robert Hur. The payments do not come close to the amount of money Trump’s political operation has directed to his legal fees in recent years. The DNC, unlike Trump, does not use grassroots donors’ money to pay for legal bills.
In contrast, Trump has faced criticism for using donor money to pay his mounting legal fees. The former president’s campaign has been described as “cash-strapped” and relying on limited funds to pay off various legal fees. Trump has portrayed the criminal and civil cases against him as a political witch hunt, urging his supporters to provide financial support for his defense. A significant portion of the money collected by Trump’s campaign has been routed to a leadership PAC called Save America, which has helped cover legal expenses for Trump and his associates.
Trump faces 88 criminal charges in four separate indictments but has pleaded not guilty in all cases. The Republican National Committee previously paid law firms representing Trump in various investigations but stopped once he officially became a candidate for the presidency again. Save America, established by Trump after leaving office, has spent over $72.5 million on legal expenses since January 2021. While Trump exerts control over the RNC as the party’s presumptive nominee, the national party has stated it will not cover his legal expenses going forward.
A joint fundraising agreement between the Trump campaign, the RNC, and state committees prioritizes donations to Save America, directing funds to the leadership PAC before any money goes to the national party. This means that wealthy donors contributing to the Trump 47 Committee will continue to assist in paying Trump’s legal fees. Trump’s aides have defended this arrangement, stating that the majority of funds raised through the committee benefit the campaign, the RNC, and state GOP parties, with less than 1% of individual donor contributions benefiting Save America.
Overall, the payments made by the DNC to law firms representing Biden in the Hur investigation are a small fraction of the massive amount of donor money directed towards Trump’s legal expenses. The differing approaches taken by the two parties in handling legal fees highlight the contrast in fundraising strategies and financial transparency. Trump’s reliance on donor contributions to cover his extensive legal costs has drawn scrutiny and criticism, particularly as he faces multiple criminal charges and legal battles.
