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Yes, Trump’s PACs really can pay his legal fees

40 Comments
By Richard Briffault

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FEC regulations are relatively relaxed about payments of personal expenses by these sorts of independent groups.

Campaign finance rules were demolished by design by corporations.

See Citizens United vs Federal Election Commission which allowed in more purchase of politicians by corporations than ever before.

And as Robert Reich observed, that got us Trump.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/dec/08/donald-trump-citizens-united-anti-democracy-decade

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Yes, trump's suckers really can pay his legal fees.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

The more they spend on his legal fees, the less they are spending on campaigning.

Keep spending on those legal fees!

6 ( +7 / -1 )

He's too poor to pay his own fees despite his boasts that he's a multi- billionaire.

Kinda smart of him to let his hordes of lemmings pay them for him.

Let's hope he gets a prison sentence; a punishment he deserves and that his worshippers cannot pay down for the rabid maniac.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

He's too poor to pay his own fees despite his boasts that he's a multi- billionaire.

Kinda smart of him to let his hordes of lemmings pay them for him

If he can afford to pay yet is asking the less well-off to donate to him, that is morally reprehensible.

If he actually can’t pay that makes him a liar.

I have met Trump supporters who say that he’s an appalling individual but they like his policies better than the alternative.

I think those who make excuses for his character must be as morally bankrupt as he is. Maybe they see something of themselves in him.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

I think those who make excuses for his character must be as morally bankrupt as he is. Maybe they see something of themselves in him.

To MAGA, his money is virtue. He's rich, so he must be smarter than everyone else.

But, you have to be stupider than Trump to think that. And Trump, well, isn't exactly what I'd call the sharpest tool in the box. And his onset dementia is bringing him even further in the other direction. Even Biden has started making fun of Trump's dementia.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

One of only two reasons he is running again - the other being to pardon himself and the rest of his crime cabal...

"The Big Lie" and "The Great Fleece" - the two tentpoles supporting MAGA-world...without them, it collapses...

Luckily for Trump, "there's one born every minute"...

4 ( +5 / -1 )

"Save America." Hilarious! Should be "Save Me", because that'd be the truth and it is all about me, me, me anyway - the quintessential conman.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

I have met Trump supporters who say that he’s an appalling...

99% of them are definitely down at the lower end of the gene pool.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Of course, PACs can pay Trump's legal fees. If he were not running for President, there would be no litigation!

Never in US history until now, has sitting President's DOJ and political operatives brought legal action against their #1 political election opponent. Most voters don't like it, except extreme partisans, and want ballot box to decide.

Webster's defines this issue as Lawfare; legal action undertaken as part of a hostile campaign against a country, group or individual.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Of course, PACs can pay Trump's legal fees. If he were not running for President, there would be no litigation!

And they should keep paying his legal bills. The should get the best and most expensive lawyers they can. No expense should be spared.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Legal costs this election, so Un-Democratic, voters want to decide election, not special interest Globalists and their election interference games like Lawfare.

The Supreme court disagreed; Citizens United.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Citizens United spoke to rights of corps. to make campaign contributions, nothing to do with legal costs surrounding this Biden DOJ Lawfare political strategy.

Never in US history has the sitting President's DOJ and his political operatives pursued legal attacks against their #1 political opponent. Most voters, non-partisans and independents don't like it = Un-Democratic

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Citizens United spoke to rights of corps. to make campaign contributions, nothing to do with legal costs surrounding this Biden DOJ Lawfare political strategy.

Sure it does. Look into it bruh.

Never in US history has the sitting President's DOJ and his political operatives pursued legal attacks against their #1 political opponent. Most voters, non-partisans and independents don't like it = Un-Democratic

This is why the RNC should spend ALL it's money on Trump's legal bills. It's imperative.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Most experts believe Trump's doing very well legally and the big civil verdict against his organization will be easily reversed on appeal and he'll counter sue for legal fees and damages. More importantly, Democratic Lawfare against Trump not working with voters = Un-Democratic

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Most experts believe Trump's doing very well legally and the big civil verdict against his organization will be easily reversed on appeal

Nah, only the C-class "experts" that are willing to go on Fox and make such things up.

Anyone who knows what they're talking about has said it's all bulletproof.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

CBS news poll today, 46% remember Trump's term as Good/Excellent. Biden current term, 33% Good/Excellent.

That's the polling in a nutshell including in Swing States, voters like peace, prosperity and stability vs. opposite.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

It seems to me his legal teams found a really nice source of income. Their client makes a lot of bad decisions that end up in court, and sometimes complicates things for himself while on trial, which means lawyers get more and more money out of him, on top of that he has the economic support of a lot of people that do not mind him being accused of a wide variety of crimes so the source can produce a lot before (if?) going dry.

The trick of course is to get the money first, since a some of those trials are about him not paying up.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Many of Trump's lawyers hope to get prestigious 1600 job, he motivates them with this carrot, real resume builder!

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Biden or Trump 2024? It's a no-brainer if you think for yourself.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

It's rather satisfying watching the rubes talk about how much they love getting bled dry by a 'billionaire' to pay his legal fees- now the grifter is after the RNC coffers, too. They still haven't worked out it's a cult. But keep mentioning that poll that made you feel good-the Dems will keep stacking away money for the campaign, which by the way, hasn't even started yet.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

It's rather satisfying watching the rubes talk about how much they love getting bled dry by a 'billionaire' to pay his legal fees

It's a bit disturbing actually. Some of them don't even form full sentences anymore, they just repeat a list of bullet points, over and over. I wonder who exactly they are trying to convince through this mantra-like repetition ... is it, ultimately, themselves?

6 ( +6 / -0 )

but they can’t pay his fines.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Trump will always rob Paul and Peter to pay himself.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

It only took a month, back when he first started campaigning in 2016, to go from "I am so rich, that I can fund my own campaign," to "Save America! Please send me money!!!"

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Trump's rich in assets not highly liquid. Upcoming Truth Social IPO, his stake approx. $4B in stock, locked up for 6 months=no sales....

Mate, he's not rich in assets. He would be if he owned the outright. All his assets are highly leveraged, by over inflating his wealth and the value of 'his' other assets that he has also over leveraged. It's a giant house of cards. Same reason that all his Atlantic City assets went belly up back in the day. He has less money now (in real terms) than what his father gave him in the first place. He's a horrendous businessman. Basically a 3rd rate bunko artist. There is no value in those over inflated assets that, for the most part, he doesn't actually own anyway.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

@wallace Trump will always rob Paul and Peter to pay himself.

Quite right

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Why does America bother even getting out of bed each day?

Put simply, Trump is a gangster! An illiterate, a coward, a despot.

How and why does America support this despotic Criminal?

He is a villain who says he wants to kill off his opponents.

A compulsive, recidivist liar. The list goes on forever.

The U S A has become a 3rd world entity.

Its people are overwhelmed by a grossly obese, mentally disabled, unstable heretic.

God help us all.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

ZENJIToday 03:38 am JST

Trump has never won a popular vote and probably won't this time, either. The world's oldest democracy is unfortunately saddled with some legacy nonsense that could very well bring it down. I guess the other problems are excessive evangelist Christianity and a deficit in teaching history in school. I guess the one thing that gives me comfort is that other countries are also electing populists so it isn't exclusively an American f up.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

ZENJIToday 03:38 am JST

Why does America bother even getting out of bed each day?

I like to get the morning news. For now :/

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Trump has never won a popular vote and probably won't this time, either.

Looks like he will, not surprisingly...

The world's oldest democracy is unfortunately saddled with some legacy nonsense that could very well bring it down. I guess the other problems are excessive evangelist Christianity and a deficit in teaching history in school.

But do we have to be subjected to swallow progressive liberal ideologies? I don't think so....

I guess the one thing that gives me comfort is that other countries are also electing populists so it isn't exclusively an American f up.

I think it's a Godsend.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Trump will always rob Paul and Peter to pay himself.

No, because many of us want to donate and help. No guns involved here, No DOJ, or Garland's, just the goodness of our hearts.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Trump will always rob Paul and Peter to pay himself.

No, because many of us want to donate and help. No guns involved here, No DOJ, or Garland's, just the goodness of our hearts.

Great. Have you gotten your two pairs of sneakers yet?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

No, because many of us want to donate and help. No guns involved here, No DOJ, or Garland's, just the goodness of our hearts.

Why do you even need to donate to a billionaire's balls?

Trump is an expert at extracting a dollar from the pockets of others.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Great. Have you gotten your two pairs of sneakers yet?

Backorder!

Why do you even need to donate to a billionaire's balls?

Because I can?

Trump is an expert at extracting a dollar from the pockets of others.

Yeah, so is our government.....

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Trump's gold sneakers were limited edition only and it seems like he has violated copyright law. Another court case.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Trump's gold sneakers were limited edition only and it seems like he has violated copyright law. Another court case.

Yes, of course, if these people can find something to snag this guy on they will do it, not even a little surprised. lol

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Trump's not that focused on raising cash, because according to NYT poll this weekend, 17% of Biden 2020 voters will not vote Biden in 2024, 10% will vote Trump.

Same poll, 97% of Trump 2020 voters will vote Trump in Nov. Money not very effective this election, candidates too well known. Biden's simply too old, high prices, inflation, open borders, global chaos = everyone gets it!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Trump should spend ALL the PAC money on legal fees. All of it. And all the RNC money as well. Every. Last. Cent. He needs the absolute most expensive lawyers out there.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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