An RNC spokesman said the party’s executive committee “recently approved payment for a number of legal costs related to politically motivated legal proceedings against President Trump” and defended payments are “completely consistent” when the party “continues[s] support against the Democrats’ never-ending witch hunt and attacks on [Trump]. “
However, some RNC members and donors accused the party of violating its own rules of neutrality and misplacing its priorities. Some of these officials who spoke to CNN also questioned why the party was bringing up the legal bills of a self-proclaimed billionaire who was sitting on a $102 million war chest as recently as May. 7 and earlier used its various political committees to cover legal costs. According to FEC filings from August, the former President’s Make America Great Again committee has paid Jones Day more than $37,000 since the start of the year, while his Make America Great Again super PAC has paid out a total of $7.8 million dollars for attorneys handling his cases related to the 2020 election.
“This is not normal. There is nothing about this that is normal, especially since he is not only a former President but also a billionaire,” said a former top RNC official.
“What does any of this have to do with supporting Republicans in 2022 or preparing for the 2024 primaries?” the official added.
Bill Palatucci, a national pledger from New Jersey, said the fact that the RNC made payments to Trump’s attorneys in October was particularly disappointing as he pleaded with party officials the same month to more resources as the New Jersey GOP seeks to promote Jack of the Republican Party. Ciattarelli crossed the finish line in a showdown with incumbent Democratic Governor Phil Murphy.
“We’re sure that $121,000 could have been used,” Palatucci told CNN.
Although Murphy narrowly beat Ciattarelli to win re-election, the unexpectedly tight race in the state of President Joe Biden has surged 15 percentage points in 2020 leaving Democrats reeling from what it’s been like. could make sense for their party next fall.
“We’re in the middle of a hand-to-hand fight trying to win and those resources can help here. It just speaks for itself what the priorities are,” Palatucci added.
Another former RNC official, who requested anonymity to speak frankly, said the RNC’s decision on Trump’s legal bills represents the “big conundrum” facing top officials. face as they try to avoid putting their thumbs on the scales ahead of the 2024 GOP presidential primary, in which Trump continues to tease his candidacy, while maintaining a provocative pace. record fund with the support of the former President.
“Trump helps them raise a lot of money, but he’s also likely to become a presidential candidate and keeping their distance will become more difficult for them,” the official said. , and questioned why the RNC “should pay for this when you have these super PACs getting unlimited money for Trump. ”
A third RNC official described the relationship between Trump and the national party as a “hostage situation”, claiming that Trump could devastate the GOP if he decides to leave the party or embolden its supporters. stop contributing to it at any time, including if RNC no longer agrees to pay part of its legal bills.
“They can’t separate themselves from him because they need him,” the person said.
The RNC did not respond to a request for further comment.
Most recently last week, RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel cited party laws regarding neutrality while dodging questions about Trump’s 2024 ambitions.
“I know you guys like to dance to 2024. I’m not going there. The party rules are you have to stay neutral,” McDaniel told reporters at a breakfast hosted by the Christian Science Monitor. .
One of the former RNC officials who spoke to CNN said that while they don’t think the party is violating its neutrality rules by covering Trump’s legal fees right now, it is possible. will present the matter to the committee at a later date.
“There isn’t a candidate yet, so it doesn’t really cause that, but it does send a signal that it will at some point,” the official said.
In either case, it remains unclear whether RNC donors were notified in advance that their donations could be used to subsidize the Trump family’s legal fees – a question that remains unanswered. Democratic National Committee released on Tuesday.
DNC spokeswoman Adona Biel said: “Ronna McDaniel and the Republican National Committee are using their donors’ money to fund Trump’s personal legal defense while he’s in office. are relying on hundreds of millions of their own money as well as campaign funds.” “If we were sponsors of the RNC, we would certainly ask questions.”
Trump has not been charged in either investigation into his business dealings in New York. However, longtime Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg was indicted by a grand jury in July on 15 counts related to an alleged tax evasion conspiracy that spanned more than a decade.
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