Former President Donald Trump’s legal defense in his ongoing criminal trial is being funded by his supporters, as revealed in Federal Election Commission filings. Trump’s PAC, Save America, has paid approximately $5.8 million to the two law firms representing him in his trial over hush money payments, prior to the trial proceedings getting underway. Both lawyers representing Trump, Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, are partners at Blanche Law and have received significant payments from Save America since Trump’s indictment in Manhattan in April 2023.
The funds paid to Blanche and Bove’s firm were approximately $4 million, with an outstanding balance of $50,000 at the end of March. Additionally, Trump attorney Susan Necheles, who previously represented the Trump Organization in a criminal tax fraud case, received around $1.7 million from Save America between April 2023 and March 31. The total legal fees paid by Save America exceed $50 million since Trump’s initial indictment, with payments also made to other lawyers representing him in various cases.
Trump’s hush money trial is expected to continue for another five weeks after opening arguments began. The amount being paid to his legal team during the trial remains unclear, as Save America’s spending in April won’t be reported until the end of May. With Save America having limited cash reserves and relying on refund payments from a pro-Trump super PAC, there are concerns about how Trump will continue to finance his legal defense going forward.
Recent scrutiny has been placed on Blanche’s representation of Trump, particularly following a hearing where Judge Juan Merchan questioned the attorney’s compliance with a gag order. Bove has since taken on a more prominent role in the trial proceedings, including cross-examining witnesses. Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to payments made to Stormy Daniels through his lawyer Michael Cohen before the 2016 election. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges, arguing the payments were personal expenses, not business payments.
Trump’s use of his supporters’ donations to fund his legal expenses has raised ethical concerns, with experts noting that it falls within a gray area of campaign finance law. The lax enforcement by the FEC makes it unlikely that Trump will face consequences for his fundraising practices. Despite the controversies surrounding the source of funds for his legal defense, Trump continues to rely on Save America and other donors to support his legal battles. The future of Trump’s legal defense remains uncertain, as questions linger about how he will sustain his expensive legal team without a steady source of funding.
