Campaign funds are being directed by Trump into financially struggling companies. Experts claim that it appears awful.
Campaign funds are being directed by Trump into financially struggling companies. Experts claim that it appears awful.
According to a report submitted to the Federal Election Commission this week, Trump's joint fundraising committee made checks totaling $411,287 to his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, in February and March, and $62,337 to Trump National Doral Miami in the same month.
Donor cash may be used at a candidate's place of business under federal law and FEC standards, experts say, provided the campaign pays fair market value. For years, Trump has been channeling millions of campaign funds into his vast conglomerate to cover costs like renting out Trump Tower, utilizing his private jet for political events, and hosting parties at his hotels and private clubs.
Even while it's legal, some experts on campaign finance feel it raises ethical questions when a candidate makes money off of their candidacies.
"Voters become more skeptical of the political system and the intentions of their elected officials when they witness incidents like this," stated Shanna Ports, senior legal counsel at the Campaign Legal Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to government
With numerous civil and criminal cases, Trump will have to pay enormous legal fees.
The money that Trump's campaign is spending at his companies might come in handy for the outgoing president, who is severely short on cash.
Trump lost two civil battles and got hit with two hefty financial verdicts.
Trump lost two civil battles and got hit with two hefty financial verdicts.
In a defamation lawsuit filed by author E. Jean Carroll, he paid a $91.6 million bond; in a fraud case involving the falsification of company documents, he posted a $175 million bond. The financial soundness of Trump's agreement to post the bigger bond payment is being contested by the attorney general of New York.
In contrast to his substantial court-ordered financial judgments, the payments Trump's campaign has made to his companies are minor, but they have been increasing recently.
In contrast to his substantial court-ordered financial judgments, the payments Trump's campaign has made to his companies are minor, but they have been increasing recently.
In his most recent financial report, which is mandatory for presidential candidates, Trump listed TAG Air, Inc. as one of his holdings. The company is valued between $5 million and $25 million. It is in charge of his personal jet, known as Trump Force One.
The minimum amount of money that Trump's campaign committees and a super PAC under his patronage have spent at his properties since the start of the year is $809,000.
The minimum amount of money that Trump's campaign committees and a super PAC under his patronage have spent at his properties since the start of the year is $809,000.
Investment on campaigns at Doral in Miami and Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach
Since the beginning of 2023, $663,000 of all campaign expenditures at Trump's properties have taken place in Mar-a-Lago, with the majority of those expenditures taking place in February. It's unclear what activities the funds were used for.
In response to specific inquiries concerning the campaign expenditures at his properties, a Trump spokesperson delivered a statement disparaging President Joe Biden instead of answering.
Significant sums of campaign money have also been spent by other GOP contenders at Trump businesses.
According to documents, the campaign of Ohio Republican Bernie Moreno, a candidate for the U.S. Senate, spent $109,000 on "event catering" at Mar-a-Lago in April, December, and January of 2023. Trump gave Moreno his support in December. After winning the March primary, Moreno will take on Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, a three-term required, in November.
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About $67,000 was spent at Mar-a-Lago in November and December on "event venue rental and catering" by the campaign of Nevada U.S. Senate candidate Jim Marchant. In his failed 2022 campaign to become the secretary of state of Nevada, Marchant received Trump's support. Now, Marchant is attempting to unseat Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen, a first-term member.
In January, a political action committee (PAC) named Giuliani Defense expended $2,400 on food and fundraising costs at Trump's Bedminster, New Jersey golf club. There have been $540,000 in legal fees paid by the PAC, according to FEC filings. In an effort to assist Rudy Giuliani with his legal expenses, which are partly related to the criminal accusations the former mayor of New York faces in Fulton County, Georgia, for attempting to assist Trump in tampering with the 2020 election, Trump threw a fundraiser for the former mayor at Bedminster in September.
On March 5, Trump invited a sizable contingent of his supporters to his Mar-a-Lago estate so they could observe the results of the Super Tuesday primary elections from 16 states. Hundreds of supporters attended a fundraiser he hosted at Mar-a-Lago in October, which included the actress Roseanne Barr, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, and U.S. Representatives Marjorie Taylor Green and Byron Donalds.
Former Ambassador Carlos Trujillo hosted another fundraiser at Trump National Doral in March, with proceeds going to the super PAC Make America Great Again, Inc.
The majority of the expenditures at Trump properties were covered by the Trump Save America Joint Fundraising organization, which raises money for both Trump's campaign and his Save America leadership PAC. Additional costs were covered by Save America and MAGA Inc. super PAC, Trump's primary campaign organization.
The majority of the expenditures at Trump properties were covered by the Trump Save America Joint Fundraising organization, which raises money for both Trump's campaign and his Save America leadership PAC. Additional costs were covered by Save America and MAGA Inc. super PAC, Trump's primary campaign organization.
Trump's business dealings have raised concerns since the 2016 election.
Throughout his three campaigns and four years in the White House, questions concerning how Trump's businesses have profited from his political career have followed him.
Demanded to steer clear of possible conflicts of interest between his presidency and his business connections, Trump announced following his election victory in 2016 that he would not be making any "new deals." The family firm, which was run by a trust with weak conditions to avoid ethical conflicts, was also placed under the management of the future president's two adult sons.
Suits alleging that Trump violated the Constitution's emoluments clauses while in office were unsuccessful. Those attempting to sway Trump's government, according to his detractors, poured money into his ventures, which included a hotel close to the White House in Washington, D.C., which was later sold and renamed as a Waldorf Astoria.
In a 2016 complaint, America Democracy Legal Fund claimed that "Mr. Trump is using funds from his presidential campaign to further his business and personal interests." The complaint was submitted to the FEC. Although the lawsuit was rejected, several experts on political finance still have reservations.
"People should be running for office because they want to serve the public, not because they want to enrich themselves," Ports stated. Therefore, those concerns are raised by the fact that campaigns are permitted to pay the candidate's business. Even though it's lawful, it casts the election system in a bad light."
Although Trump's use of campaign funding at his businesses may not be illegal, Richard Briffault, a professor of law at Columbia Law School, said it's "a little bit dicey."
Although Trump's use of campaign funding at his businesses may not be illegal, Richard Briffault, a professor of law at Columbia Law School, said it's "a little bit dicey."
"Never seen anything like it before"
According to Briffault, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a Democrat who ran for president, may be the only political contender with a comparable vast corporation, but even so, they are not exactly equivalent. He declared, "Nobody's ever seen anything like it with Trump."
Charging Trump's campaign and PACs the same price they would charge any other paying client for the services is the main requirement for his businesses. However, whether the campaign and PACs could obtain a better deal elsewhere raises ethical concerns as well.
Charging Trump's campaign and PACs the same price they would charge any other paying client for the services is the main requirement for his businesses. However, whether the campaign and PACs could obtain a better deal elsewhere raises ethical concerns as well.
What is the cost that they impose? And how much are they lodging those who may be staying somewhere else that would be less expensive? Briffault enquired. "They're holding these things there on purpose, but you could imagine there could be cheaper venues."
While the president is dealing with four criminal charges, Trump's leadership PAC has also been spending enormous sums of money on lawyers. In a case concerning purported payments made to an adult film actor during the 2016 presidential campaign to silence her about an alleged sexual affair, he is presently on trial in New York City.
The leadership PAC Save America has been paying more than $72.5 million in legal fees to numerous firms that represent him in both his criminal and civil cases since the days following the 2020 election. The majority of his legal expenses come from that fund, but his linked committees have spent millions more.
Although it is common for campaigns to spend money on legal matters, campaign finance experts believe Trump has gone beyond what is permitted.
Although it is common for campaigns to spend money on legal matters, campaign finance experts believe Trump has gone beyond what is permitted.
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