Donald Trump’s leadership PAC, Save America, spent nearly $3.7 million on legal expenses in March, with most of the expenses going towards Robert & Robert, the firm representing Trump and his family in a business fraud case. Trump also faces a criminal hush money trial in Manhattan, making legal expenses a top priority for the committee. The committee ended the month with an additional $886,000 in outstanding legal bills, highlighting the financial challenges Trump is facing as he prepares for upcoming legal battles.
Opening arguments are scheduled to begin in Trump’s criminal trial, making him the first former president to face criminal prosecution. Save America paid over $1 million to legal firms in March, showing the extent of the financial burden Trump is under. With the general election campaign heating up, Trump will need to make up significant financial ground as President Joe Biden and the Democratic National Committee continue to expand their cash advantage.
Biden’s campaign committee has significantly more funds stockpiled in comparison to Trump’s main campaign account. Save America’s spending on legal expenses last month alone rivals the total amount Trump’s campaign spent altogether in March as he seeks a third bid for the White House. Biden’s campaign reported over $29 million in expenditures last month, with a large portion going towards producing and placing campaign ads.
Save America has relied on funds clawed back from a Trump super PAC, MAGA Inc., to remain afloat. Despite receiving additional funds in March, this source of money will soon run dry as the leadership PAC had donated the maximum allowed to the super PAC. In an effort to replenish dwindling resources, Save America has inked a joint fundraising agreement with the Republican National Committee and state parties to receive a share of funds collected from high-dollar donors. The first fundraising event under this agreement raised a record $50.5 million.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s independent bid for the White House received a $2 million contribution from Nicole Shanahan in March, with additional funds raised that month. The campaign spent $4.5 million in March on consulting, events, advertising, and payroll, ending the month with $6 million in cash on hand. Shanahan, a tech executive and ex-wife of Google co-founder Sergey Brin, contributed unlimited amounts of money to benefit Kennedy’s campaign. These campaign filings highlight the financial support and spending for independent candidates in the upcoming election.
