Trump’s Defense in Hush Money Trial: Donors Fund $6M+

Former President Donald Trump’s defense in his ongoing criminal trial is being heavily financed by his supporters. Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings through April reveal that Trump’s PAC, Save America, has funneled millions to the law firms representing him in his trial concerning hush money payments.

Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, partners at Blanche Law, have received approximately $4.9 million from Save America between April 2023 and April 30, 2024. Susan Necheles, an experienced attorney who previously represented the Trump Organization, has been paid around $1.7 million by Save America during the same period.

In total, Save America has disbursed approximately $6.6 million to the law firms involved in Trump’s hush money case as of April. This figure does not account for Trump’s outstanding debt to Blanche Law, further underscoring the substantial financial commitment required for his defense.

The financial burden of Trump’s legal battles extends well beyond the hush money trial. Save America, the primary PAC handling Trump’s legal expenses, has expended over $50 million on legal fees since Trump was first indicted in Manhattan on March 30, 2023. The payments to Blanche and Necheles’ firms are significant, yet they are exceeded by the amounts paid to other attorneys representing Trump. Lawyers such as Christopher Kise, Clifford Robert, and Alina Habba have each received around $7 million or more for their services in various cases, highlighting the extensive network of legal support Trump has mobilized.

The hush money trial is poised to reach a critical juncture, with the jury expected to deliberate next week following the defense’s conclusion of its case. Judge Juan Merchan has scheduled closing arguments for May 28, setting the stage for a pivotal phase in the trial. The ongoing financial support for Trump’s defense team remains a topic of interest, particularly as the expenditures for May will not be reported to the FEC until the end of June. This delay leaves a gap in the public’s understanding of the full financial scope of Trump’s defense efforts.

The conduct of Todd Blanche during the trial has attracted significant attention. An April hearing focused on whether Trump violated a gag order, with media reports indicating that the proceedings did not favor Blanche. Despite these challenges, Blanche has continued to play a central role in Trump’s defense, notably engaging in a rigorous cross-examination of Michael Cohen, a key witness.

The hush money case centers on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, charges that stem from payments made to Michael Cohen. Trump has denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that the payments were personal expenses rather than business transactions. The trial has cast a spotlight on the ethical and legal implications of using donor funds to cover personal legal expenses. Save America has become a focal point in this debate, with critics scrutinizing the PAC’s role in funding Trump’s extensive legal defenses amid growing criminal and civil cases. Despite the legal gray area surrounding such fundraising practices, experts suggest that enforcement by the FEC remains unlikely, allowing Trump to continue leveraging donor contributions for his legal battles.